"The memorial should instill the ideas that patriotism is a moral duty, that freedom comes at a price, and that the victims of this attack have paid the ultimate price...We challenge you to create a memorial that translates this terrible tragedy into a place of solace, peace, and healing."

Family Statement
The Pentagon Memorial Family Steering Committee

On September 11, 2001, terrorists crashed Flight 77 into the Pentagon, killing the 59 passengers on board the aircraft and 125 military and civilian personnel who were working inside the Pentagon.  Shortly after the attack, the United States Congress authorized the Secretary of Defense to create a permanent memorial on the grounds of the Pentagon.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, tasked with the planning, site selection, design and related services for the memorial, took immediate action and created a Focus Group working committee of Pentagon staff members and representatives from other federal and local agencies.

The Corps met with the Family Steering Committee, a volunteer group of family members of the victims.  As planning progressed, both committees participated in the evaluation of ten potential sites, considering family acceptability, accessibility, proximity to the impact area and aesthetic views, and helped the Corps host an informational meeting for all the victims' families.

Close-up daytime rendering of Memorial units

A two-stage blind competition to select the artistic concept for the memorial began in June 2002, soliciting submissions from around the world.  The Corps established a jury of highly respected design professionals, family members and
Washington dignitaries (including two former Secretaries of Defense) to review the entries submitted by 1,126 individuals and teams.  In September 2002 a private exhibition of the entries was held for the victims' families and loved ones, whose written comments were provided to the jury, which then selected six finalists.

A family exhibit of the six finalists' detailed proposals was held at the
National Building Museum, and the submissions were displayed at the Pentagon for employees.  Hundreds of written and electronic comments were provided to the jury during its deliberations in February 2003.

On March 3, 2003, the jury announced the selection of submission number 1717, the creation of Keith Kaseman and Julie Beckman of KBAS of New York, NY.  A "design lock" was placed on Kaseman and Beckman's design on
April 9, 2003.

Close-up nighttime rendering of Memorial units

The Pentagon Memorial Fund, Inc. was incorporated in May 2003 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization to raise the private funds necessary to design, build and maintain the Pentagon Memorial.

Washington Headquarters Service (WHS) holds overall responsibility for the project, with Pentagon Renovation & Construction Program Office (PENREN/C) serving as the construction agent.  Real Estate and Facilities (RE&F) will serve as the project manager to secure, manage and account for funding as the project progresses.  Centex-Lee LLC was awarded the design-build contract to complete the Pentagon Memorial.

Overhead view of site model with Memorial units lit from underneath

Pentagon Memorial Fund, Inc.
5185 MacArthur Boulevard, NW Suite 115
Washington, DC 20016
www.PentagonMemorial.net
The Pentagon Memorial Fund, Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) IRS tax-exempt organization.
The IRS Tax ID number for our organization is 31503

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