Memorial Day

The Washington Post had an article about the Pentagon's memorial to those fallen in the September 11, 2001 attack. It's nearly completed, and the families were able to have a private review of the project. Each site will have a metal bench with the individual's name, a reflecting pool, and a tree (illustrated here).

The Pentagon Memorial is to be dedicated Sept. 11, the seventh anniversary of the terrorist attacks. Yesterday, at the start of the Memorial Day weekend, Fisher was among more than a dozen family members of victims gathered at the site, dabbing tears and snapping pictures as they toured the memorial park.

Construction crews are rushing to complete the work, working seven-day weeks now to make up for time lost to recent rains.

"We're going to make sure it's done and done right and done on time," said Chris Hartzler, senior project manager for Balfour Beatty, the contractor. "This project has a lot of meaning for everyone on the job."

The 184 benches, each honoring a victim, are in varying states of completion. On the southern side of the two-acre park, where the benches for the youngest victims will be, concrete basins sit atop footings. In the memorial's midsection, stainless steel benches have been installed atop the basins. The benches on the northern side, where [Jonathan] Fisher's father [Geep Fisher] is honored, have already been fitted with granite tops.

Workers are connecting pipes and jets that will stream water through each basin, keeping the pool of water underneath each bench perpetually moving. Lights are being installed to shine through the pools, illuminating the base of each bench. Workers will be testing the elaborate water works in coming weeks.

Reflecting the urgency of the schedule, workers continued preparing the site even as family members wandered through. A crew with a forklift lowered a 1,200-pound stainless steel bench onto a cart, where it would be delivered to its spot. Another team drilled 10-inch deep holes into a concrete basin to anchor a bench in place.

The memorial is to be officially commemorated on September 11, 2008. I'll be there.