Pentagon Memorial

We went to Virginia this last weekend to see Parker's sister and his parents. Mom and dad Lybbert flew all the way from Seattle and we figured this would be the closest we would get to them for a while! We had a WONDERFUL trip. One of the highlights for me (other than seeing family) was making a trip to the Pentagon 9/11 memorial. That is a day I will never forget. I could tell you exactly where I was and what I was doing when each of the planes hit. I have a very deep pride for this great country. In fact, a lot of people don't know that I HEAVILY considered enlisting in the army after high school.

The memorial was sobering and humbling. All 184 victims are listed and honored with a bench within the memorial. The benches faced two directions, toward the Pentagon and away. If the bench faced the Pentagon, it means you were on the plane, looking at the Pentagon when it crashed. If the bench faces away from the building, it means you were inside the Pentagon, likely looking at the plane as it approached.

The year of the youngest casualties birthday. She was just three.

In the picture below, you can see the difference (although slight) of the new construction they had to do to fix the building. Behind the tree to the left, you can see the stone on the building is yellowed. To the right of the yellowed stones is the repaired construction-- a whiter/brighter stone.

These two didn't know the significance of where we were. I am glad I didn't have to explain it to them. It would have been too difficult for me.

This is Parker's sister, Aimee, and her daughter Ashley. Ashley realized there was a nine year old, the same age as herself, on the plane. It was a tender mother/daughter moment.