Monumento al Pentágono

The Pentagon Memorial will be closed Wednesday, Sept. 11 from 5 a.m. - 11 a.m. for the Observance Ceremony. Learn more

Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Mark A. Milley host a 9/11 Pentagon Memorial Observance, Sept. 11, 2020, in honor of the 184 people killed in the 2001 terrorist attack on the Pentagon.

On Sept. 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 77 was hijacked and crashed into the Pentagon, killing all 64 people on the plane and 125 people in the Pentagon. The Pentagon Memorial is the first national memorial dedicated to honoring the 184 people whose lives were lost at the Pentagon that day, their families, and all those who sacrifice so that we may live in freedom.

The Pentagon Memorial captures a specific moment in time - 9:37 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2001, when 184 souls were lost. The $22 million memorial sits on two acres of land right outside where the jetliner struck the building.

There are 184 memorial benches dedicated to each of the victims, and they’re organized in a timeline of their ages, from the youngest victim, 3-year-old Dana Falkenberg, to the oldest, 71-year-old John Yamnicky.

Each Memorial Unit includes a cantilevered bench engraved with a victim's name and a lighted pool of flowing water. The benches are made of stainless steel and inlaid with smooth granite and each bench is inscribed with a victim's name on the end, and arches over a shallow reflecting pool of water, lit from below.

The benches for the 59 jetliner passengers are positioned so a visitor will face the sky when reading the victim's name. Those dedicated to the victims inside the building have the victim's name and the Pentagon in the same view.

The site also has a curved wall, aptly dubbed the Age Wall, which increases in height to represent the ages of the victims, starting at 3 inches to represent the youngest victim and growing to 71 inches to represent the oldest victim.

There are 85 Paperbark Maple trees clustered throughout the Memorial, with foliage that changes to brilliant oranges and reds in the fall. The Paperbark Maples will eventually grow to 30 feet to provide a canopy of shade over the area. Ornamental grasses mark the boundaries of the Memorial.

The Pentagon Memorial design was developed by Julie Beckman and Keith Kaseman. Their vision for the memorial was selected from more than 1,100 submissions by a panel of architects, family members and public figures in the Washington, D.C. area, including two former secretaries of defense.

Each memorial unit includes a cantilevered bench engraved with a victim's name and a lighted pool of flowing water. The benches are made of stainless steel and inlaid with smooth granite, and each bench is inscribed with a victim's name on the end and arches over a shallow reflecting pool of water, lit from below.

There are 85 paperbark maple trees clustered throughout the memorial, with foliage that changes to brilliant oranges and reds in the fall. The paperbark maples will eventually grow to 30 feet to provide a canopy of shade over the area. Ornamental grasses mark the memorial's boundaries.

The Pentagon Memorial was created to help us remember and honor those family members and friends who perished at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001.

Paul received his M.D. from the Marshall University School of Medicine; served as National Director of Legislative Affairs for the American Medical Student Association and was honored with their Lifetime Achievement Award. He completed his resident work at Dartmouth Medical School in the Department of Community and Family Medicine, during which he was a member of the Council on Graduate Medical Education – a federal body that makes recommendations to Congress and the Secretary of Health. Dr. C. Everett Koop is quoted as saying, "I have no doubt Paul would have gone on to roles of Surgeon General of the United States, the Cabinet position of Human Health Services, Senior Delegate to the World Health Organization, and, eventually, be dean of a major school of public health."

In 1996, Craig received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Film Studies from the University of Iowa in Iowa City and was the owner of a graphic design company called SockoDesign. While in the Army, he received the Military Achievement Award, given by Lieutenant General David Ohle in 1999, and earned the Expert Rifleman rating. He was also posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Award. Craig worked as an enlisted specialist under Lieutenant General Timothy J. Maude doing multimedia illustration.

Melissa worked at the Navy's headquarters for two years after holding several assignments since 1992, when she enlisted from Redlands, California. Promoted to yeoman third class in June 2000, Melissa held an administrative job in telecommunications at the Pentagon and reported to the Chief of Naval Operations. She began her naval service as a corpsman – a medical aide – at a naval hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia, and later received communications training in Mississippi.

In 1952, Max was drafted and served two years in Korea, and he reenlisted in 1956. When he was sent to Vietnam in 1972, he was already a 20-year veteran. He served almost a year in Vietnam during the time of negotiation for the withdrawal of U.S. forces and was listed officially as the last American combat soldier to leave Saigon on March 29, 1973. Max retired from active duty as the Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Army Intelligence Command, Fort Meade, Maryland, in 1974. Following his retirement, Max worked as Legislative Counsel for NAUS, before accepting a position with the Department of the Army as the Deputy Chief of the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Retirement Services Division, where he has given unwavering support to veterans and their families for 15 years. He was instrumental in getting Congress to pass "TRICARE for Life," a program he endorsed wholeheartedly, as well as advocating for open enrollment in the Survivor's Benefit Plan. His efforts on behalf of retirees are supported and lauded by U.S. Sen. Kaye Bailey Hutchison of Texas in the Congressional Record.

Dr. Yeneneh Betru immigrated to the United States in 1982 with the dream of becoming a physician. He attended high school at the Abbey School in Colorado, college at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles, medical school at the University of Michigan, and later completed his residency at Los Angeles County–USC Medical Center. During the last three years, he worked as the Director of Medical Affairs for IPC-The Hospitalist Company in Burbank, California. One of the pioneers in a new practice of medicine referred to as Hospitalist Care, he traveled around the country to train hundreds of physicians. It was while Dr. Betru was working with the Ethiopian government to designate the proper location for the clinic that the terrorist acts of Sept. 11, 2001, ended his dream on American Airlines Flight 77.

Known as Romeo to family and friends, he was born in Georgetown, Guyana, and when he was 2 years old, Waldorf, Maryland became his home. Romeo graduated from Thomas Stone High School in 1995, and enlisted in the Navy on Sept. 13, 1995. After graduating from boot camp in November 1995 and Service Command School in April 1996, then he reported for one year of duty aboard the USS Yorktown (CG 48). In November 1997, he transferred to the USS Shreveport (LPD 12). He reported for duty at the Pentagon in May 2001 to the Chief of Naval Operations Telecommunications Center, (known as OPNAV TCC, the Pentagon directorate of Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station in Washington, D.C., was where he quickly qualified in three watch stations and was well on his way to success.

Carrie was a civilian budget analyst for the Army when Flight 77 plowed into the side of the Pentagon housing her office. She and her husband of 23 years, Leo Blagburn, share memories of trips, outings to dance clubs, church visits, the births and weddings of their children, and the tender loving care she has given their grandchildren.

Colonel Boone, also known as "Bud," had a wide array of both command and staff assignments throughout his 31 years of service. Bud sold insurance for Prudential and was an Army National Guardsman for several years before going on active duty in 1986, where he served as the Assistant Professor of Military Science at Eastern Illinois University. Colonel Boone's follow-on assignments included Personnel Staff Officer and Personnel Analyst, Army National Guard Personnel Directorate, Arlington, Virginia; Army National Guard Active Guard Reserve Assignments Officer, Personnel Secretariat, Arlington, Virginia; Chief, Military Personnel Services Directorate, Arlington, Virginia; and Army National Guard Advisor and Mobilization Integrator, Personnel Command, Arlington, Virginia. Colonel Boone was assigned as the Army National Guard Personnel Policy Integrator in the Office of the Army's Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel at the Pentagon in August 1998.

Fondly known as M.J., Mary Jane worked for American Airlines for 45 years and was secretary to American's general manager at Dulles International Airport for more than three decades, arriving shortly after the airport opened. On September 11th, M.J. boarded her airline's Flight 77, en route to a Las Vegas meeting of the employee's credit union.

Donna, an employee of Verizon, had worked on contract in the Army budgeting office for the last four years of a 23-year career with the communications company. On Sundays, she taught catechism at Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church, which the family attended. Every Wednesday, she left work early to volunteer in her children's classrooms. Donna grew up in the Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, school system, and was a fan of the Boston Red Sox. She completed two years at Graham Junior College in Boston before following her parents to Maryland.

Allen P. Boyle was born in New York. He moved to Arizona as a young adult, where he met and married Ronda, a member of the U.S. Marine Corps. The couple was stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. When Ronda was honorably discharged, she and Allen moved to Virginia and were employed at the Pentagon. He was a loyal employee and a proud American.

Bernard Brown was clever, a quick wit, the kind of boy who kept his teachers on their toes. Bernard was selected to take on a four-day National Geographic trip to California. He just loved basketball and had been playing on teams since he was 7 years old. He always said he was going to be a star and that he was going to play professional basketball someday.

Christopher Lee Burford joined the Navy shortly after finishing high school. He started his career at the Naval Training Center in Great Lakes, Illinois. He then moved to the Fleet Training Center in Norfolk, Virginia, for a three-month stint before joining the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations Telecommunications Center at the Pentagon in June 2000. Burford was an electronics technician.

Captain Burlingame was a 1971 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and a former Navy jet fighter pilot. He was hired by American Airlines in 1979. Prior to his 22-year career with American Airlines, he flew F-4 Phantoms in Squadron VF-103 aboard the USS Saratoga. He served in the Navy for 25 years — eight active duty, 17 as a reservist. He volunteered to be reactivated during the Gulf War in 1990 and worked at the Pentagon. He retired in 1996 at the rank of captain and was buried with full honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

Known to his family as "Danny" and to his shipmates as "Cabby," he graduated from boot camp in November 1998. He received orders to report for duty at the Pentagon in December 1999 to the Chief of Naval Operations Telecommunications Center, for which he felt pride. He was the NCTS Washington's Junior Sailor of the Year for 2000. His awards and decorations include two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and a Purple Heart.

Sergeant First Class Calderon-Olmedo enlisted in the Army on July 8, 1982, from Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico. During his second tour in Germany, he met and married the former Gloria Garcia. He was deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Desert Storm. His awards and decorations include six Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, six Good Conduct Medals, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon (Numeral 3), Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 3), the National Defense Service Ribbon, the Kuwait Liberation Medal, Defense of Southwest Asia Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with three bronze stars, the Air Assault Badge, the Driver's Mechanic Badge, the Army Support Unit Award and the Army Staff Badge.

Suzanne loved to travel and had been all over the world with her husband, Frank Jensen. She was a master scuba instructor, and along with her husband, taught classes in Monterey, California, and led dive trips the world over. At a memorial service for Suzanne in Monterey, several hundred people showed up, and all remembered her smile. Her smile lit up a room. Suzanne was a very giving person, never expecting anything in return. She touched many lives and influenced countless more.

Angelene, a much loved and respected wife, mother, family member, co-worker and friend, has left behind a strong legacy. She exhibited outstanding strength and leadership, which served as an example to her family, co-workers, church and friends. After a full day of regimentation, she would conclude the day with a personal Bible meditation and reflection period followed by prayer. Angelene was also a dedicated servant of her nation. She gave 26 years of devoted government service, the last eight years in the Pentagon, where she was a staff accountant for the Department of the Army.

Sharon was the sixth of seven children and was raised in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. She served the federal government for 16 years. She loved her country and was very patriotic. Sharon was most happy spending quality time with her family and friends, especially her nieces and nephews. She would often volunteer to go on school field trips and attend Girl Scout meetings with her nieces. Sharon is remembered for her honesty and bluntness, her love of life and family, and her big, beautiful smile.

William was a physicist and former University of Maryland faculty member who worked as a civilian for the Navy. He was born in Boston as the eldest of six children. His doctoral work at Princeton became delayed when he was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War. Unlike many inductees, he admired his drill sergeant. When he resumed his studies, he chose to work in elementary particle theory, a cutting-edge, difficult and prestigious branch of physics. He loved and enjoyed life with his wife, their daughter, Jennifer, and his stepson, Sean.

Born in Milwaukee, John J. Chada was a two-time Vietnam veteran. He followed his long military career (in both the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army) by working as an administrative assistant for the Department of Defense Information Management Support Center. A devoted and outstanding husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend, he was a member of the Moose Lodge 1380 in Manassas, Virginia, a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a member of the American Legion.

Rosemary held several positions in the federal government, working her way up to her position as a senior management officer in the Office of the Deputy Comptroller for Force Structure and Management, Office of the Comptroller, Defense Intelligence Agency. During her 31-year career, she received numerous awards and honors, but was most proud of the Joint Meritorious Civilian Service Award, awarded by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for her service in the Joint Staff.

David was the First Officer on American Airlines Flight 77. He was born in Morocco, and his family also lived in Paris and in Arlington, Virginia. David attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and worked as a corporate pilot and commercial pilot. He is remembered fondly by many friends for his kindness, loyalty and positive attitude.

Sara Clark was a sixth-grade teacher at Backus Middle School in the District of Columbia and was on American Airlines Flight 77 to chaperone a group of children going to Santa Barbara, California, for an ecology conference sponsored by the National Geographic Society. She had taught in D.C. public schools since 1965, and is survived by two children. Sara received her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Winston-Salem State University and a Master's degree in Urban Learning from The George Washington University.

Julian Theodore Cooper left college to join the U.S. Navy, where he served on active duty for 13 years and continued to serve as a Navy Reservist. He was employed by Litton PRC as a Senior Computer Analyst and had worked full-time in the U.S. Navy Command Center at the Pentagon for the last five years of his life. He was an honest man who stood up for what he believed, and he simply loved life and lived it to the fullest. His favorite saying was "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is the future, but today is the present, so cherish it and enjoy."

Asia Cottom had just started sixth grade at a new school. She was eager to learn and pleased to be at the campus where her father worked. She was selected to take a trip to California with a teacher to participate in a National Geographic Society ecology conference. Asia was a kind-hearted girl who helped other students with learning difficulties; she was persistent herself, continually trying until she grasped a lesson.

Eric Cranford was selected for the Air Force Academy, but instead accepted a Naval ROTC scholarship at North Carolina State University. He graduated from naval flight school and became a helicopter pilot, serving two tours in the Persian Gulf. Eric was a patriot and was proud to be a Navy helicopter pilot helping to defend the American way of life. This was made powerfully clear by thoughts he wrote in his personal journal on the anniversary of D-Day. On June 6, 1994, he wrote: "Imagine a cause where a nation would agree that the cause was worth risking everything. If everything were to be lost, then that would be justified because failure was less acceptable than death."

For 31 years, Ada Marie Davis worked diligently and faithfully in government service as an accounting technician and, later, to full accountant after successfully acquiring her Associate's degree. She worked at the Pentagon under the Secretary of the Army, Resource Management, for over six years and put off retirement twice to ensure her successor was truly prepared to handle the job once she left.

James D. Debeuneure received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from Johnson C. Smith University in 1966. James was an active member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, the Johnson C. Smith Choir, and the Appreciations, a singing group. At the time of his death, he worked as a 5th grade teacher at Ketchum Elementary School in Washington, D.C. While teaching at Ketchum he devoted much of his time to many.

As director of the current operations and plans branch of the Navy Command Center, Captain Gerald F. DeConto was organizing the Navy's response to the World Trade Center attack when he died in the crash at the Pentagon. DeConto received a Physics degree from the U.S. Naval Academy and reported to the USS Excel as a damage control assistant, later serving as engineering officer and executive officer. He became operations officer on the USS Fresno in 1982. He attended the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, receiving a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering. He then received a second Master's degree in National Security and Strategic Studies at the Naval War College. Captain DeConto had been commanding officer of the USS Simpson and chief of staff for the Standing Naval Force Mediterranean. Unbeknownst to him, Captain DeConto had screened for Major Command as of Sept. 1, 2001.

Rodney Dickens grew up in tough Washington neighborhoods where danger lurks on most every corner, but he avoided it. Rodney always made the honor roll, loved reading, playing computer games, and playing with his siblings. But his favorite thing in the world was watching professional wrestling on television.

Lieutenant Colonel Dickerson started out in ROTC, then served in the National Guard and joined the Army in 1983. If there were a definition of Army values in the dictionary, Jerry D. Dickerson's picture would sit right next to it, said a longtime friend and fellow military man, Lt. Col. Glenn W. Harp. "For him, it was selfless service," Harp said. Family and country came first for Dickerson. He worked on operations research and systems analysis in the Pentagon.

Eddie A. Dillard received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History in 1969 from Bishop College and was a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. He was a district manager at Phillip Morris when he retired in 1997 after 19 years of service. Eddie refused to let retirement slow him down. He discovered a new adventure when he turned a simple real estate venture into a full-fledged career. Eddie began buying and selling property throughout the United States and loved every facet of this newly discovered profession.

Johnnie Doctor Jr. was an information systems technician first class, a job he relished. He was in the Navy 14 years, traveling from Japan to Jacksonville, Florida, to Russia and Australia. On his return from far-flung ports, he’d always bring back a T-shirt or other mementos for his wife and stepchildren. As much as he loved the service, Johnnie Doctor wanted more. He had recently started criminology classes at the University of the District of Columbia, with thoughts of becoming a state trooper.

During his 20-year Navy career, Captain Dolan served in Bahrain, the Persian Gulf, the Adriatic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, at various naval stations and on the Joint Staff in the mid-1990s before obtaining a Master's degree from the National War College. He received several decorations, including the Meritorious Service Medal. In 2000, Dolan moved his family to Alexandria and went to work at the Pentagon as strategy and concepts branch head under the Chief of Naval Operations.

Commander Donovan was born in Nunda, N.Y., and was commissioned at the U.S. Naval Academy with the Class of 1986. Commander Donovan served in Patrol Squadrons 11, 31 and 1, as well as serving aboard USS George Washington. He had been on the Chief of Naval Operations staff for a little over a year on September 11.

Charles A. Droz, known by many as "Chuck," had over 20 years’ experience developing products and technology for distributed computing environments. Prior to joining EMSolutions, he spent 20 years in the Navy, where he pursued development of high-capacity signal processors, multiprocessor application software, and innovative signal processing algorithms. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Grove City College, and a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School.

Pat, the son of a Newark policeman, came from a Navy family. His father served in World War II and the Korean War. Pat and one of his brothers were U.S. Naval Academy graduates. His life was centered around the Navy. One of his favorite things was his U.S. Naval Academy diploma, which has a picture of him shaking hands with President Ronald Reagan. He was fascinated with the lore and excitement of the Pentagon, where he worked as a planner and strategist.

Petty Officer 1st Class Edward Thomas Earhart was an aerographer's mate in the Navy. The Morehead, Kentucky, native began his military career with basic training in Great Lakes, Illinois, before moving on to the Naval Reserve Center in Lexington, Kentucky, and the Naval Technical Training Unit at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi. Earhart spent three years in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, before his assignment at the Pentagon.

Barbara was born in Frankfurt, Germany, and came to the United States with her family when she was a child. She grew up in Michigan, but lived in various parts of the country. Edwards was a cheerleader in high school and a runner-up in a homecoming queen contest. At Palo Verde High School in Las Vegas, where Edwards taught French and German for four years, she built her German language course from one class to six. She was the purveyor of laughter and everything positive in her family and schools where she taught.

After graduating from the Ohio State University in 1987, Bob received his commission. He served 10 years on active duty and then transferred to the Navy Reserve in 1997 to spend more time with his family. He served in the Navy Reserve's Supervisor of Shipbuilding Conversion and Repair Detachment 306. As of October 2000, he served in the Naval Command Center. Bob was active in his church as a Sunday school teacher and also coached girls’ soccer. In 2000, along with friends, Bob was a founding partner of Delta Resources Inc., a defense consulting firm.

Charles Falkenberg, his wife Leslie Whittington, and their daughters, Zoe and Dana Falkenberg, were on their way to Australia, where Leslie planned to work for a few months at the Australian National University in Canberra. Leslie was an Associate Professor of Public Policy and an Associate Dean at Georgetown University. She was known for her excellent teaching and organizational skills, her wit and her research on economic issues affecting children and families. Charles was a gifted software engineer and scientist. He was known by colleagues and friends as a devoted father, community activist and energetic volunteer. Charles and Leslie were married in 1984, and Zoe and Dana were at the center of their lives. Known for her determination, intelligence and ambition, Zoe was a top student, and active in Girl Scouts, ballet and swim team. She appeared in the school's production of "Brigadoon" and a local production of "The King and I." Dana was a robust, curly-haired girl, who was seen as a miracle by her parents. She was intense, funny and a charmer. All four family members were talented, beautiful people who loved life and other people.

Jamie Lynn joined the Navy, following in the footsteps of her father, a retired chief petty officer. She had the opportunity to fit in an overseas tour in Bahrain and a three-year sea duty tour before being tapped to serve as a watch-stander in the Navy's command center at the Pentagon. Jamie Lynn "had a heart of gold and a real zest for life," one friend said.

James Joe Ferguson was director of geography education outreach at the National Geographic Society. He was lured away from a master's program by an internship offer at National Geographic and then worked there for 14 years. His mother said he was interested in helping children learn about geography and teased him that his middle name should have been "Go," because he loved to travel and could pack in 20 minutes.

Amelia Fields turned 46 on September 11. Her husband, who had been her high school sweetheart, slipped out of their home during breakfast to place a surprise birthday card in her car. She and her future husband met in study hall during their junior year of high school. They married two years after graduation, and she accompanied him on his military assignments and volunteered at Navy hospitals while raising the couple's two children, William Jr. and Shantell.

Fisher, known to friends and co-workers by his childhood nickname, "Geep," had a 30-year career in government, academia and private industry and was known as a real optimist and problem solver. "My son was a precious spirit, a special guy," said his mother, Muriel Fisher, "He was the fulcrum of the family. He had a dry sense of humor and always came to the rescue. You were laughing before you were distraught." Christine Fisher, his wife of 17 years, said, "His circle of friends was so large that as many as 80 people turned out for his annual pre-Thanksgiving potluck dinners." Fisher is survived by his son, Jonathan Michael Fisher, and a daughter, Serena Leigh Dugan, from his first marriage.

Darlene Ellen "Dee" Embree Flagg was on American Airlines Flight 77 with her husband of 40 years, retired Navy Rear Admiral Wilson "Bud" Falor Flagg. She taught school in Annapolis, Maryland, and married Bud when he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1961. She was a devoted Navy spouse, mother and grandmother, and active in the communities that she lived in. She was an artist and involved in fostering children's artistic talent. Dee was never too busy, however, to do small or large acts of kindness. Nothing was too difficult, too time-consuming, or too inconvenient for her if it helped her family in any way. She is survived by two sons, Marc and Michael; a sister, Doris Koehler; and four grandchildren: Elizabeth, Mitchell, Michael and Natalie.

Retired Rear Admiral Wilson "Bud" Falor Flagg was on American Airlines Flight 77 with his wife of over 40 years, Darlene Ellen "Dee" Embree Flagg. He was a 1961 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. Admiral Flagg went on to flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1962 and became qualified in the F-8 Crusader. Two of the three deployments to Southwest Asia that he made on the USS Oriskany were combat cruises. He left active duty in 1967 and joined American Airlines and the Navy Reserve, enjoying successful careers in both. He and his wife, Dee, operated Daybreak Farm in Millwood, Virginia. The farm kept both very busy and certainly was, in many respects, a work of love. The farm served as a gathering point for their family and the grandchildren spent many special days, summers and years with their ‘special’ grandparents.

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Michael Flocco, an aerographer's mate, enlisted in the Navy following his high school graduation. He was a committed athlete who ran every other day and went home to Delaware on weekends to play softball in a community league. His love of meteorology was rooted in his boyhood fascination with the Weather Channel. "We’re just so proud of him, and we’re going to miss the hell out of him," said his dad. "He dedicated his life to his job and his friends. I learned more from him in the past three years than he ever learned from me."

Sandra grew up in Washington, D.C., and graduated from Dunbar Senior High School in June 1978. Sandra started her career with the federal government in 1977, working as summer aide for the Federal Power Commission. In 1978, she accepted a position with the Defense Intelligence Agency. Throughout her career, Sandra was devoted to excellence, demonstrated through the numerous awards she received for outstanding performance. Her contributions to the agency will be missed. To Sandra, her family was the most important thing in life. In the words of her husband, Kenneth: "Her beauty was natural. Her radiance could light up a room or a heart."

Richard Gabriel was a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer and Vietnam War veteran who was awarded a Purple Heart for wounds received in action. At a young age, this strong, physically imposing figure made it his mission to engage in life again after the amputation of his leg. Who ever said, "Life is fair?" Certainly not Rich. Nor did he ever expect it to be. Rich had come to terms with his misfortune and moved on without bitterness or anger. He embraced responsibility, appreciated life's second chances, had integrity and was honest to a fault. His incomparable perspective on life helped him succeed in his most gratifying endeavor of all: being a dedicated husband to his wife, Anne, father to his five children, and a loyal son to his parents. Without a doubt, Rich rightfully earned his place as the most tremendous source of strength for his family and as an inspiring example of humanity. These words would surely make Rich uncomfortable. He didn't believe in anything that hinted at sympathy or pity. Only a great soul has that capacity. Rich was that extraordinary — a true gentleman.

Lawrence Daniel Getzfred enlisted in October 1963, after graduating from St. Boniface High School in Elgin, Nebraska, in 1962. Captain Getzfred began his Navy career as an antisubmarine warfare technician in a squadron of P-3 patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, an aircraft that would play a large part in his Navy career. He completed Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida, and was commissioned an ensign in 1972. In 1977, he served as a tactical coordinator instructor at the P-3 training squadron, VP-31, in Moffett Field, California. From 1980 until 1983, he was selected for a personal exchange program with the Royal Air Force in Kinloss, Scotland, flying in Royal Air Force Nimrod aircraft. In 1987, he became executive officer of VP-40, a squadron of P-3s based at Moffett Field, California. From there, he led his squadron on deployment to Misawa, Japan, and Kadena, on the Japanese island of Okinawa, and commanded the squadron from July 1988 to June 1989. Captain Getzfred spent the next three years as an action officer in the Strategic Planning and Policy Department of the Joint Staff. He was promoted to captain after being reassigned to the staff of Commander, Patrol Wings Pacific in Hawaii, where he served as the Force Training Officer. Captain Getzfred reported to the Pentagon on the staff of Deputy Director of Plans, Policy, and Operations. He served as duty watch captain and then as branch head for Joint Operations and Plans. On September 11, he was at his duty station in the Navy Command Center.

Born Nov. 28, 1947, and raised in Washington, D.C., Cortez Ghee was a budget analyst for the Department of the Army. He graduated from McKinley Technical High School in 1967 and attended Montgomery, Prince George's and Cantonsville colleges. Prior to his job with the Army, he had worked with the Maryland Air National Guard, the Department of Health and Human Services in Baltimore, the General Services Administration in Washington, and served a tour with the U.S. Air Force. He was a Vietnam veteran.

Brenda Colbert Gibson was a budget analyst, Resource Services Washington, Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army. A native Washingtonian, she lived her last 13 years in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Brenda held positions in several different agencies during her more than 30 years of service in the federal government.

Colonel Ronald F. Golinski enjoyed living in Columbia, Maryland with his wife. During the course of his 36-year Army career, he held many positions of responsibility, including the position of Director of the Enlisted Personnel Management Directorate at the Army Reserve Personnel Command in Saint Louis. As Director of EPMD, he was responsible for the management of more than 300,000 enlisted soldiers in the Individual Ready Reserve. His awards include the Legion of Merit and the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters. Subsequent to his retirement from the U.S. Army Reserve in 1996, he was employed as a Department of the Army civilian in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel.

Scottish-born and raised, Ian J. Gray was an action figure with larger-than-life zeal. Ian became a chartered accountant at Cambridge University in England. He came to the United States in 1968 to work for Blue Cross/Blue Shield in Chicago, and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1979. In the early 1970s, Ian moved to Baltimore, where he continued with Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Next, he joined McBee Associates, a health care finance firm based in Columbia, Maryland, where he later became a principal. For 11 years, Ian served on the board of directors of Baltimore Medical System, where he held positions of treasurer, finance committee chair and retirement committee member. He also enjoyed volunteering with the Special Olympics and the Art Deco Society of Washington.

Diane Hale-McKinzy was born Diane Eileen Watts in Lithonia, Georgia. She served in the military from January 1981 until September 1985, receiving numerous awards and commendations. After receiving an honorable discharge from the military, Diane started her career in civil service. She spent more than 20 years serving and working for her country. In the late 1980s, Diane joined Christian Hope Center Church. On Oct. 17, 1995, she was ordained as a deaconess in the church. In addition to her duties as a deaconess, she served as a dedicated usher and Sunday school teacher. She also supported the nursing home ministry and street ministry. However, most notable were her skills as chief financial officer for Christian Hope Bible College and Believer's Academy.

Stan Hall, 68, was onboard the American Airlines Flight 77 when it crashed into the Pentagon. He was born in Arlington, Virginia, and attended Washington Lee High School. In 1953, Stan was drafted into the Army and served for two years during the Korean War. He was a graduate of George Washington University in the District of Columbia, and Drexel University in Pennsylvania. He worked at Raytheon's Washington facility, where he was director of program management. Stan, a 17-year veteran of the company formerly known as Hughes, helped develop and build anti-radar technology. "He was our ‘dean’ of electronic warfare, and his objective was always the protection of the American servicemen," a company official said.

Carolyn Halmon worked the day shift as a budget analyst for the Army at the Pentagon. She was a churchgoing person dedicated to her charity work at the National Church of God in Fort Washington. She also loved gardening at her home, growing tomatoes, peppers, greens and flowers.

Michele Heidenberger was the senior flight attendant aboard Flight 77 when it was hijacked and crashed into the Pentagon. A resident of Chevy Chase, Maryland, she had been a flight attendant for American Airlines for about 30 years. Michele devoted many hours working with children at St. Ann's Infant and Maternity Home, the American Red Cross, Stone Ridge of the Sacred Heart, Mater Del, and Gonzaga College High School. On April 12, 2001, Michele received the Professional Flight Attendant Award from American Airlines. Her involvement in her community and with her children's schools put her in close relationships with many people, all of whom loved her and will miss her forever.

Sheila Hein was at the Pentagon on September 11, taking part in an Army internship, studying manpower analysis. A native of Springfield, Massachusetts, she joined the Navy out of high school and was sent to Virginia. She spent 10 years in the service as a photographer, and ventured into a career in computer graphics, working on government contracts. In 1998, Sheila received a Bachelor's degree from Columbia Union College after taking courses here and there for 20 years. She planned to get a Master's degree.

In 1994, Ronald Hemenway joined the Navy to become an electronics technician. He Hemenway quickly advanced to first class petty officer while he served on the USS La Salle. In 2000, he was assigned to the Pentagon and worked for the Chief of Naval Operations. He is remembered as a man who read everything he could find and as a husband who was so eager to share his knowledge with his wife.

Wallace Hogan served for 21 years in the Army. He received his commission in 1981 from Officer Candidate School and joined the Georgia Army National Guard as a rifle and mortar platoon leader. He attended the Infantry Officer Basic Course and served with the 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Colorado Army National Guard, as the detachment executive officer and later as the commander. Major Hogan attended the Special Forces Officer Qualification Course at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He then served with the 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and Alabama Army National Guard as a detachment commander. He attended the Infantry Officer Advanced Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, and the Special Forces Thai Language Course at Fort Bragg. He accepted an active duty appointment in the grade of captain on April 4, 1993. He served with the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) Fort Lewis, Washington, as a battalion operations officer and detachment commander; and as the commander, Special Forces Instructor Detachment, U.S. Army Jungle Operations Training Battalion, Fort Sherman, Panama. His final tour was with the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans at the Pentagon.

Born Aug. 1, 1947, Jimmie Holley was educated at J.D. Thompson High School in Alexandria City, Alabama. He began his military career in 1965 and received his Associate of Arts degree in Accounting in 1970 at Montgomery College, Maryland. He retired from the U.S. Army with 15 years of service. Jimmie's final assignment was working as a budget analyst for the Army at the Pentagon.

Angela was born in La Plata, Maryland. She was educated at local schools, graduating as salutatorian of Maurice J. McDonough High School in 1992. Angela interned with the Office of Naval Intelligence in Suitland, Maryland, and was offered a permanent position following graduation from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She worked as a regional analyst, specializing in Latin American affairs, and traveled extensively. She was recommended for a position in the Pentagon, working for the Chief of Naval Operations Intelligence Plot, where she also served as the Naval Intelligence watch officer in the Navy Command Center. Following this assignment, she returned to work at Suitland and the Office of Naval Intelligence, working there until her most recent appointment as senior analyst at the Pentagon.

Brady Kay Howell, 26, was born April 4, 1975, in Rexburg, Idaho. He was a student-body president of Sugar-Salem High School and received his Eagle Scout award. He received a Master's degree in Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University in New York, while working for the Office of National Security Studies. He received undergraduate degrees in Political Science from Utah State University in Logan, Utah, and Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho. Brady's intellect, character and integrity resulted in his selection to the Presidential Management Internship program in Washington. Upon graduation, he managed to secure a very competitive position with the Chief of Naval Operations.

Peggie Hurt had been on the job at the Pentagon only two weeks. Her position in the Army's accounting section, which followed a stint with the National Guard, was a promotion the Virginia State University honors graduate had eagerly sought. The native of Kenbridge, Virginia, lived in Springfield and often returned to her many friends and family in that part of the state.

Stephen Neil Hyland Jr., told a friend what he’d like his epitaph to read: ''Born with the gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad.'' Stephen served in the Army from 1980 to 2001. As a captain, he was assigned to Division Support Command, 9th Infantry Division, with a follow-on assignment to Fort Lewis, Washington where he served in the 525th Replacement Company. He was promoted to major and attended Command and General Staff College from 1996 to 1997. Upon completion, he was assigned to the U.S. Army Pacific Command G-1 (Personnel) office from May 1998 to June 2000, and then received a reassignment to the Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel at the Pentagon.

Robert Joseph Hymel was born in New Orleans. After graduating from high school, Bob attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree. He began his distinguished military service with the U.S. Air Force in December 1969, and was awarded his coveted Air Force pilot wings in 1970. He flew B-52 bombers while assigned to the Strategic Air Command and was a decorated Vietnam combat pilot. In 1974, while on active duty with the Air Force, Bob earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Western New England College. During the course of his 24-year military career, Bob was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Purple Heart, and the Meritorious Service Medal, among others. He was a veteran of two campaigns, Vietnam and Desert Shield/Desert Storm. He retired from the Air Force in September 1993 after attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel. Bob began his civilian career with the Defense Intelligence Agency on March 7, 1994. He served as a senior management officer in the Office of the Comptroller, Deputy Comptroller for Force Structure and Management.

Lacey B. Ivory was born Nov. 15, 1958, in Marvell, Arkansas. At the age of 2, Lacey's family relocated to Kansas City, where joined the Army in 1977. Lacey continued his education while serving in the Army, where he earned an Associate of Science degree from Des Moines Area Community College, a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of the State of New York, and had recently received his Master's degree in Education in Counseling from the University of Maryland European Division. Lacey served 24 years in the Army, culminating his career as the Senior Enlisted Military Assistant in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. His previous assignments include two tours of duty at Fort Riley, Kansas; the Reception Station at Fort Jackson, South Carolina; two tours in Germany that included assignments in Headquarters U.S. Army Europe and 7th Army and the 510th Personnel Services Battalion; U.S. Army Recruiting Command, Des Moines, Iowa; U.S. Army Readiness Group, Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana; and the U.S. Army Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. His last assignment was working in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.

Bryan Creed Jack, Ph.D., was Director of the Programming and Fiscal Economics Division in the Office of Program Analysis and Evaluation in the Department of Defense. "Dr. Jack" graduated from Lee High School in Tyler, Texas in 1970 as a National Merit Scholar and the male Presidential Scholar for the State of Texas. He graduated from the California Institute of Technology with honors in 1974 and studied in Japan as a Henry Luce Scholar in 1974-1975. Dr. Jack was a graduate student at CalTech and assistant to Albert Wohlstetter in 1975-1976, and received Master of Business Administration degree from Leland Stanford University in 1978. He received his Doctorate in Economics from the University of Maryland in 1991. Dr. Jack was promoted to the Senior Executive Service in 1995. He was awarded the Defense Exceptional Service Medal in 1998 and 2000. In 2000, he was appointed Adjunct Professor of Economics at The George Washington University.

Steven Jacoby was the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Metrocall Inc., one of the nation's largest wireless data and messaging providers. He had held this position since 1994, when Metrocall merged with FirstPage USA, where he had been one of the founding partners, COO, Vice President and Corporate Secretary since 1988. He served as a Director of the Board of MNET, a startup wireless application service provider. He also sat on the board of Men Against Breast Cancer and was actively involved with the Camp Fantastic Special Love Charity Golf Tournament, as well as Catholic Charities.

Lieutenant Colonel Dennis M. Johnson, an Adjutant General Corps officer, served in a wide variety of both command and staff positions throughout his 25 years of military service. On Dec. 20, 1975, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Adjutant General Corps, detailed to Armor. He held several platoon leader positions, served as an assistant adjutant, and later as battalion adjutant to 4/37 Army Battalion Headquarters Company. In 1984, he attended Florida International University in Miami, where he was listed among "Who's Who Among Students" and the dean's list of 1986. Dennis’ next assignment took him to Fort Wainwright, Alaska, where he served as the installation club manager. In August 1988, he relocated to Fort Richardson, Alaska, where he commanded the 203rd Personnel Service Company. In 1991, he was assigned to the Pentagon as a program budget officer, and later, as the executive officer to the Director of Operations and Support for the Army Budget Office. In 1994, he served at Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii, in the Resource Management Office. In 1998, he was reassigned to Operational Test and Evaluation Command in Alexandria, Virginia. In May 2000, Dennis accepted what was to become his last assignment as the Chief of Personnel Services for the Deputy Chief of Staff at the Pentagon.

Judith loved the beach, her family, her friends, her co-workers, and her grandchildren. She was about helping others and volunteering her time to help those in need.

Ann Campana Judge was born in New York City, graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University, and had been with National Geographic for 22 years where she served as a Travel Office Manager. She arranged trips around the world for National Geographic Society writers, photographers, and executives. Colleagues recalled her enthusiasm for travel and her passion for geography, and said she took care of their travel glitches with ease.

Brenda Kegler had worked at the Pentagon for 30 years, most recently as a budget analyst for the Army. She loved her job and enjoyed the company co-workers, Carrie Blagburn and Samantha Allen so much that even after her husband retired and moved to Florida, she stayed on at her job and Capitol Heights home. She was younger than her husband, so it was hard for her to retire; however, she was making plans with her husband and excited about them being together again.

Chandler "Chad" Keller graduated in 1993 from the University of Colorado's renowned Aerospace Engineering program. He grew up in Manhattan Beach and spent part of his childhood in Hong Kong, New York, and Sydney, Australia. Chad was a lead propulsion engineer and a project manager with Boeing Satellite Systems in El Segundo, California. He had been with Hughes/Boeing for just over five years and was involved with their satellite launch program. On Nov. 5, 2001, he was awarded the Medal of Freedom, posthumously, by the Department of Defense and the National Reconnaissance Office for his work with Boeing Satellite Systems and the NRO.

Yvonne Estelle O’Prey was born in the Western suburbs of Sydney, Australia. She attended Glenfield Primary School and furthered her education at Liverpool Girls High School, where she completed her Senior Certificate. Yvonne began working as a secretary and bookkeeper for ES&A Bank in Sydney. She worked for both the South Sydney Council and the Sydney City Council. In 1990, Yvonne began her career as a full-time staff member at Red Cross. The Australian Red Cross became Yvonne's passion; she continued her work there until her retirement on Dec. 15, 2000. Yvonne was awarded the Australian Red Cross Distinguished Service Medal in May 2001. In July 2001, she was elected Executive Officer of the Corps – a position she would never have the opportunity to fulfill.

Norma was manager of member services, Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors-National Association. To her family, she was the shining star that brought them together. She was their bringer of support, encouragement, hope and faith. She touched the lives of so many, as a friend, a leader, a mentor and an energetic contributor in her community.

Karen A. Kincaid, a passenger on American Airlines Flight 77, was a partner in the communications practice of the law firm Wiley Rein & Fielding. Karen also served as an adjunct professor at CU's Columbus School of Law. She joined Wiley Rein & Fielding in 1993 and was a member of the firm's communications practice. She served as a senior attorney-advisor for the Private Radio Bureau at the Federal Communications Commission from 1989 to 1993. Karen was a former law clerk to J. Smith Hensley, U.S. Court of Appeals judge for the Eighth Circuit, from 1987 to 1989, and to Leo Oxenberger, Chief Judge, Iowa Court of Appeals, from 1986 to 1987. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Central College in Pella, Iowa, and her Juris Doctor degree from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

Michael "Scott" Lamana, 31, a Navy lieutenant and flight officer, grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and graduated from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge in 1992. He attended naval flight training school in Pensacola, Florida, in 1993-1994. While in Florida, he completed Master of Business Administration preparatory courses at the University of West Florida. He worked in Navy operations and helped monitor the operations of the Navy's global fleet from his post in the Pentagon's Navy Command Center.

David Laychak graduated from Brown University in 1983 and began his career with the Department of the Army. He started working in the Pentagon in 1984. David spent seven years as a budget analyst for the Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army. He left the Pentagon in 1991 to attend the Army Comptrollership Program, where he received his Master of Business Administration degree from Syracuse University. David accepted a position with the Army Signal Command at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. He graduated from many programs, including the Army Management Staff College. In the fall of 2000, he returned to the Pentagon as Chief, Budget Execution Branch, Program and Budget Division, Resource Services-Washington, Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army.

Dong Chul Lee, also known as D.C., came to America in 1968. He was a graduate of the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University in Computer Science. D.C. worked in the U.S. Air Force for four years and for the National Security Agency for 14 years. At the time of his death, he was working as a program manager in government information and communication systems in the Space and Communications Group for the Boeing Company.

Kenneth Lewis was a golf guy. Jennifer Lewis was a horsewoman. He always came to work in a crisp suit. She always came to work with a practical joke. Ken and Jennifer was the husband-and-wife team who both worked as flight attendants for American Airlines, normally on separate flights. They were together on American Airlines Flight 77, planning to vacation when they reached Los Angeles.

Samantha, a 1982 graduate of Suitland High School, graduated in the top 5% of her class. She continued her education at Prince George's Community College with a major in Business Administration. She worked with the Department of Commerce in 1981, until her organization moved to the Department of Transportation. In 1982, Samantha worked for the Army Civilian Personnel Office at the Pentagon. In 1987, she worked for the Army at Sheridan Kaserne near Augsburg, Germany. Upon returning to the United States in 1990, Samantha worked at Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Washington. She came home to Maryland in 1992 and worked at the Hoffman Building, after which she pursued her career as a budget analyst for the Department of the Army at the Pentagon.

Major Stephen Long enlisted in the Army in July 1981 and attended Infantry training and the Basic Airborne Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. After completing training, he was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 75th Infantry (Ranger) Regiment at Fort Lewis, Washington. In October 1983, then-Specialist Long parachuted onto the island of Grenada as part of Operation Urgent Fury, where he earned the Army Commendation Medal for Valor and the Purple Heart. After Grenada, he was selected for a three-year ROTC scholarship and was subsequently discharged from the Army to attend Augusta State University in Georgia. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and was commissioned in the United States Army in November 1989 as a second lieutenant with the Quartermaster Corps. In August 1990, he deployed to Saudi Arabia as part of Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm. In 1991 he assumed the responsibilities of company executive officer and later as an assistant brigade logistics officer. In 1995, he was a company commander with the 601st Aviation Support Battalion, 1st Infantry Division, in Katterbach, Germany. In April 1998, where he served as an assignment officer in the Officer Personnel Management Directorate and, later, as the Secretary of the General Staff for the Command. He was promoted to major on Nov. 1, 2000.

Jim Lynch joined the Air Force in April 1967. He attended basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and electronics training at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. In December 1969, he was assigned to the 2044th Communications Group in the National Military Command Center at the Pentagon as an electronics technician. After seven years of Air Force service, Jim was discharged in March 1974 and returned to the National Military Command Center as an Air Force civilian. There, he helped during several upgrades to the center. Jim came to work in the Navy Command Center in October 1983 and was there doing his job on September 11.

For more than 20 years, Terry worked for different branches of the U.S. government. In 1978, he began working for his hometown congressman, U.S. Rep. Charles Carney, as a legislative aide, before moving to the office of Alabama U.S. Rep. Albert Lee Smith. Following Smith's 1982 reelection loss, Terry moved to the office of U.S. Richard Shelby, for whom he worked from 1982 to 1995 as his senior legislative aide. From 1984 to 1986, he helped Shelby's move from the House of Representatives to the Senate. As a member of Shelby's staff from 1982 to 1995, Terry served as the senator's military, foreign affairs, appropriations and health care liaison. Following his tenure in Shelby's office, Terry moved to the Senate Intelligence Committee as the committee's Gulf War illness and Middle Eastern affairs expert. In May 1997, he continued his investigation of Gulf War illness as the director of the Special Commission for Gulf War Illnesses chaired by Sens. Arlen Specter and Jay Rockefeller. In 1998, Terry was invited to work on the President's Commission on Weapons of Mass Destruction as a national expert on biological and chemical weapons — in particular, the use of anthrax as a terrorist weapon. Terry ended his career in 1999 where he had spent so much of his efforts, working again on the Special Commission for the Gulf War Illness. In September 1999, Terry left the U.S. government and joined the staff of Booz, Allen and Hamilton as a military and health care issues expert, responsible for the Army On-Line Education Program, Army University.

Nehamon Lyons IV graduated from Dollarway High School in 1989 and moved to Mobile, Alabama, in 1990. He attended the University of South Alabama in Mobile for three years, pursuing a degree in medicine while working several jobs to pay for his education. He enlisted in the Navy in 1997. His first assignment was on the USS Gettysburg. He transferred to the Pentagon in January 2001 and was an operations specialist second class.

Shelley Ann (Farr) Marshall grew up in Vienna, Virginia, and graduated from Oakton High School, where she was on the honor roll for four consecutive years. Shelley started her undergraduate studies at Mary Washington College, then transferred to George Mason University, where she graduated in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration. Shortly thereafter, she joined the Defense Intelligence Agency in September 1987 as a human resources manager in the Manpower and Position Management Operations Division, Office for Human Resources. Shelley was selected for an administrative officer position in April 1993 in the Counterdrug Analysis Office, Transnational Warfare Group, and stayed there until May 1999, when she accepted a position as a senior management officer in the comptroller's office. Throughout her career with DIA, Shelley received numerous awards for her distinguished performance.

Teresa, also known as "Teri," grew up in Ohio with her brothers and sisters. She and her husband aspired to retire at age 50. Teri and her husband were partners in everything, including the family business, T.J. Martin Trucking. Teri worked at the Pentagon as a budget analyst for the Department of the Army.

A native of Picayune, Mississippi, Ada graduated from Jackson State University in 1973 and worked in the banking industry until she began her career with the U.S. government in 1980. She served as a budget analyst for the U.S. Army. Ada's enthusiasm for living showed in everything she did – in her appreciation of the differences among people she knew, in the enjoyment she derived from the fresh cut flowers that always filled her home, in her desire to explore the parts of the world she had never seen, in her eagerness to help her children avoid the struggles she, herself, had faced and overcome, and in her analytical approach to every decision she made.

Dean E. Mattson was born and raised in Luck, Minnesota, about 65 miles northeast of Minneapolis. He was living in Alexandria, Virginia, at the time of the attack, and was serving as the executive officer for the Army Information Management Support Center in the Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army. He had been in the military since being drafted in 1964.

Lieutenant General Maude was born in Indianapolis. He entered the Army as an enlisted soldier on March 21, 1966. Upon completion of Officer Candidate School in February 1967, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Adjutant General's Corps. Lieutenant General Maude was a soldier for more than 35 years, during which time he served in a variety of important command and staff positions, culminating in his assignment as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, United States Army. Other key assignments included service as the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel and Director, Military Personnel Management, United States Army; Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, United States Army Europe and 7th Army; Director, Enlisted Personnel Management, United States Total Army Personnel Command; J-1, U.S. European Command; Commander, United States Army Enlisted Records and Evaluation Center; Commander, 1st Battalion Troop Brigade, United States Army Soldier Support Center, Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana; Adjutant General and Deputy Chief of Staff G-1, 2nd Infantry Division; and Chief of Staff, 8th Personnel Command. Lieutenant General Maude loved soldiers, he loved the Army, and he loved this wonderful country.

Robert Maxwell was a former Texan who loved to do crossword puzzles and tease his wife about being a native New Yorker. He worked at the Pentagon as a civilian budget analyst for 29 years for the U.S. Army. He was just a year away from retirement when he died. He planned to play a lot of golf, do the books for his wife's psychology practice and basically take care of her. He enjoyed cooking Southwestern and Creole food, listening to Janis Joplin and Joe Crocker, and he joked with a dry wit.

Renée began her early formative years in rural upstate New York. She had worked for American Airlines since 1986 as a flight attendant. She was fascinated with people and their cultures, customs and everyday life. She also was affected by the importance that nature has in all aspects of historic and contemporary Asia. All of this culminated in her great love of and respect for the many wonders found in the museums around the world, and her desire to share her knowledge and experiences with others. She loved to travel and she loved art. She worked as a docent at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, not far from the 150-year-old row house she shared with her cat, Cheyenne, in the city's Federal Hill section. Renée was known for making special blankets for her family and friends, giving them something to warm them on a cold day and wrap around them like ''an enveloping hug.''

Molly, a budget analyst and 14-year Department of the Army civilian, was a dedicated mother who would do anything for her two daughters. She attended school in the Cocalico School District in Denver, Pennsylvania, and graduated from high school in the Mount Vernon School District in Mount Vernon, Ohio. While a student at Cocalico, Molly played the clarinet in the school band, sang in the chorus, and portrayed the lead actress in "Li’l Abner" in her class play. In 1985, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Mount Vernon Nazarene College.

Dora would not have been aboard the American Airlines jet that slammed into the Pentagon if not for her passion to cure deadly diseases and save lives. This mother of two had worked at Amgen's Thousand Oaks headquarters since 1991, helping to develop new and better drugs to battle cancer and pneumonia. She was in Washington to attend meetings with Food and Drug Administration regulators on the development of a new prostate cancer drug. The meetings ended late on Sept. 10, a day earlier than expected, so she boarded Flight 77 in Washington on September 11.

Patty was a nurturing mother, a loving daughter, a devoted spouse, a loyal sister, a caring aunt and very special family member. She was a supportive friend and a dedicated professional with a deep belief in God, family and country. She was a selfless person – always thinking of others first. Patty was raised in Dale City, Virginia, and was a graduate of Virginia Tech University. She dedicated more than 19 years to the Department of Defense, where she was working as a financial manager.

Ronald graduated from Muskogee High School and earned his Bachelor's degree from Eastern New Mexico University in 1991. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army, and after his commissioning, he served as a platoon leader an executive officer in Germany, assistant operations officer battery commander in South Korea, a Patriot training officer for Saudi Arabian Forces and as military assistant for the Secretary of Army, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, at the Pentagon.

Jerry was born in Baltimore, studied photojournalism at the University of Oklahoma after graduating from Scranton Technical High School in Pennsylvania. He traveled the world as a combat photographer for the Navy between 1979 and 1984. Jerry was working at the Pentagon as an engineering contractor for the Navy, doing video teleconferencing as he had the last three years of his life. Family and friends describe Moran as a humorist and a humanitarian. When he was not coaching fast-pitch softball, baseball or power lifting, his wife said, he could be found in the kitchen whipping up gourmet meals and experimenting with recipes from his many cookbooks. Jerry's niece was in one of the World Trade Center towers when it was hit on September 11. She escaped before it collapsed.

Odessa V. Morris, graduated from George Washington Carver School in 1965 and attended Chesapeake Business College for a short time. Initially, she worked for a stationery company and then began working with the federal government, where she spent 32 years of her life. Her last position was as a budget analyst for the Army. September 11 is a culmination of several elevenths for Odessa: she entered this life on the 11th, got married on the 11th, anticipated a joyous celebration of her 25th anniversary on the 11th, and died on the 11th. She gave of herself freely; she even honed her skills to volunteer as a financial counselor to others. In addition, she was treasurer and a member of the board of trustees of the New Mount Olivet Apostolic Church in Seat Pleasant, Maryland, where she worshipped until the time of her death. She relished cooking different dishes, a skill she learned from her mother. At varying times Odessa ventured into sewing, photography, and her last hobby, raising goats.

Brian enlisted in the Navy in March 1990 and was stationed in Adak, Alaska. He was also stationed at the U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard, primarily assigned to train the young Guardsmen to represent the Navy to the world. He performed in countless ceremonies, including the 54th Presidential Inauguration, and laid shipmates from the USS Cole to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. He was selected to represent Naval District Washington as Sailor of the Year for 2000 – an honor almost unheard-of for a second class petty officer – demonstrating his ability as a first class petty officer. In his final assignment, he was nominated to work for the Chief of Naval Operations at the Pentagon. His commitment to excellence set him apart from others.

Ted Moy was born and raised in the Washington's Chinatown neighborhood. His parents ran Veteran's Food Market at Fifth and H Streets, Northwest. He helped in the store while growing up.

A printer, he began working for the Navy in 1983. Ted worked there until 1999, when cuts in defense spending shuttered his section and forced him to look for a new job. Then he went to work for the Army at the Pentagon.

Ted Moy was born and raised in the Washington's Chinatown neighborhood. His parents ran Veteran's Food Market at Fifth and H Streets, Northwest. He helped in the store while growing up.

A 1981 graduate of Marian Catholic High School, Patrick signed up for ROTC and completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of Mississippi in 1986. He was commissioned an ensign in the Navy on May 21, 1986, in the Nuclear Propulsion program. Following nuclear power plant training, Patrick served on USS Sand Lance as leader of the Electrical, Reactor Control and Damage Control divisions. In 1991, Patrick left active duty to pursue a career in chemical engineering. He maintained his connection with the Navy, serving in a number of positions with the Navy Reserve and performing duty with the Chief of Naval Operations branch of the Pentagon.

Many of Christopher's accomplishments can be listed on paper: earning the rank of Eagle Scout at 14, graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with high marks, earning his certified public accountant license, becoming chief financial officer, and later, after completing his Master of Business Administration degree at UCLA's Anderson School, being named President and Chief Executive Officer of Work|Life Benefits. Christopher was a successful businessman and world traveler who loved the performing arts and music, the game of golf, and any home improvement project he could find. But perhaps his most important accomplishment, the identity he would tell you he was most proud of, was that of a loving, devoted family man. As the President and CEO of Work|Life Benefits, he was in the process of relocating company headquarters to Northern Virginia to be closer to key customers and the Paris-based corporate parent, Accor. He had been traveling constantly, preparing to move the company, when he boarded American Airlines Flight 77.

Khang grew up familiar with war. In South Vietnam, he and his family heard the frequent boom of shells and gunfire. In 1975, when communists took over the country, he and his family fled to an airport in vans. His father and two of his siblings made it onto a flight heading to the United States, but the rest of the family got left behind amid the chaos. Nguyen, his mother, and other siblings lived in poverty, peddling rice on the streets. Meanwhile, his father, a former employee of the U.S. Information Services in Vietnam, used his contacts to find the family. His effort paid off: in 1981, the parents and nine children were reunited in Washington. Khang earned a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland. For 10 years, he worked for the Defense Information Systems Agency. His last three years, he worked for the Science Applications International Corporation as a Systems Administrator at the U.S. Navy Command Center in the Pentagon.

From very early childhood, there was no question about Noeth's talent. He was "a painter." Drawing and painting before he could talk, his first formal art training only began when, as a junior in high school, he enrolled in special classes at the world-renowned Art Students League in New York City. Always intrigued as well by ships and the sea, it was an easy decision to enlist in the Navy as soon as he earned his Fine Arts degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology. For him, it was the best of all worlds — to really travel the world, live at sea, and have enough opportunities to paint his impressions of every experience. Michael's first tour was as a member of the commissioning crew of the USS Russell. He achieved his illustrator-draftsman rating and was assigned to a Crisis Action Team at the Headquarters U.S. European Command Staff. In 1999, he was transferred to the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp. Michael was transferred to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in September 2000. He was at his post at the moment of the September 11 attack.

Barbara graduated from Cardozo Law School in New York and became a prosecutor in the U.S. attorney's office in Washington. As chief investigative counsel for the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee in 1995 and 1996, Barbara looked into the White House travel office firings. She also was the author of two highly critical books of the Clintons. As Barbara's Los Angeles-bound jetliner hurtled instead toward the Pentagon, she speed-dialed her husband, U.S. Solicitor General Theodore Olson, and told him how terrorists had taken over the plane. They would be the last words he would hear from his wife, an author, former congressional lawyer and criminal prosecutor, whose sharp commentary made her a frequent guest on "Larry King Live" and other television talk shows over the last three years of her life. She had been with the law firm of Balch & Bingham, affiliated with the lobbying firm of Barbour, Griffith & Rogers.

She was a well-known conservative legal analyst and appeared frequently on CNN, Fox News and several other news outlets.

Ruben S. Ornedo graduated from Hobart Elementary School, Berendo Junior High School and Fairfax High School in Los Angeles. He earned a Computer Engineering degree from UCLA in December 1984. At Boeing Satellite Systems in El Segundo, California, Ruben was affectionately known as "Ornedo the Tornado" for his hard work, diligence and quick action as a lead engineer in the satellite systems engineering organization. His intelligence, enthusiasm, dedication, versatility and integrity were evident in all that he did. For more than 15 years at Hughes and Boeing, Ruben played a key role in many projects that were of vital importance to the defense and security of the nation. On September 11, Ruben boarded American Airlines Flight 77 from Dulles Airport to Los Angeles to make a quick trip home from an extended Washington business trip and to spend some precious time with his lovely and beloved pregnant wife.

Diana and her husband were both born in Puerto Rico, and they met at Fort Hood, Texas, where they were stationed after finishing Army basic training. Diana left the Army in 1982, but stayed involved with the military life. Diana graduated magna cum laude from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. She served as a staff accountant for the Office of the Secretary of the Army, Resource Services, Washington, Installation Accounting Division and, for a brief period, with the Headquarters of the National Guard. She loved her job, for which she traveled often. Every time she visited a city, state or country, she brought home a kitschy refrigerator magnet and covered part of the refrigerator door, displaying them in tidy rows, including another magnet that reads "Diana's Kitchen." At her office, she had a wall displaying similar items that friends brought to her from their trips. "It is almost complete," she used to say very proudly.

Jonas graduated from Bellefonte High School in 1993 and accepted an appointment at the U.S. Naval Academy. On July 1, 1993, Jonas entered the academy, and he became an exemplary leader within the Brigade of Midshipmen, and he graduated May 23, 1997. In September 1997, Jonas started the Naval Intelligence Officer's Basic Course in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He was assigned to Patrol Squadron 46, "the Grey Knights," in Whidbey Island, Washington, and completed deployments to the Western Pacific and the Persian Gulf. He was then assigned to the Pentagon and served on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations Intelligence Plot as a flag intelligence briefer because of his superior skill and dedication.

Major Clifford L. Patterson, Jr. graduated from St. John's College High School in 1986. In 1991, he graduated from Howard University as a Distinguished Military Graduate. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Infantry Corps. His military assignments include: Bradley platoon leader, Scout platoon leader, and company executive officer for 1st Battalion, 9th Cavalry, Fort Hood, Texas; Battalion S-4, Commander, Charlie Company and Commander, Headquarters Company 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, Fort Campbell, Kentucky; and Budget Officer, Resource Management Division-Washington at the Pentagon.

Bob Penninger loved life, always living it to the fullest. He always tried to find humor in any situation. Bob also loved cars. In high school, he was always tinkering with the cars he and his friends owned, fine-tuning them to get more speed. He especially enjoyed motorcycle trips with his wife and friends and attending car shows, where he won many trophies showing his 1999 Cobra Mustang. He is greatly missed by all whose lives he touched.

As the son of a military general officer, Mr. Ploger attended 11 schools, graduating from Paris American High School in 1959. He attended Michigan State University and graduated from the University of Denver in 1965. He served in the U.S. Army from 1960 to 1962. His career in information technology began helping develop one of the ARPANET's first nodes at the University of California Santa Barbara. Later, both as a development engineer at a start-up company and as the creator of another company, he developed IBM attachments for compatible networks for the Series I/370 and Series 1/X.25. Robert retired from IBM in 1996 with two patents. At the time of his death, he was the Director of Enterprise Engineering for the U.S. Customs and Modernization Program at Lockheed Martin. He died on September 11 aboard American Airline's Flight 77, departing for his honeymoon with Zandra Cooper Ploger.

This was to be the Hawaii honeymoon Zandra and her new husband, Robert Riis Ploger III, waited almost four months to take when they departed for the first leg of the trip aboard American Airlines Flight 77. Zandra was a manager at IBM for more than 20 years. She was an avid supporter of the American Heart Association, given that her oldest daughter was born with a heart condition. Also called "Z" by her friends, Zandra was the epitome of what a mother stands for: love, honesty, strength and integrity. In short, she was amazing. Her spirit and her enthusiasm for life will live on with those who knew and loved her.

Darin received his commission upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1998. Designated as an intelligence officer, he reported to the Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Command in Dam Neck, Virginia. After completing his training, he received orders to Carrier Air Wing Seven as the Collections Officer. Stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, he deployed to the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. He was finishing his 12-hour shift when terrorists attacked the Pentagon.

Scott and his identical twin brother stuck together at Washington's Duke Ellington School of the Arts and were college roommates. They shared a love of music, forming their first band in third grade and starting a production company as adults. They called it Dem Twinzz Productions, and sometimes they’d go to conventions in matching outfits to promote their music business that produced titles for some big labels. Then they became Mable's Twinzz, the name a tribute to their grandmother. They toured in Sweden and the United Kingdom with a group called Shego Band, playing rhythm and blues, pop and jazz and some traditional Somali and Arabic songs. After speeding through the course work, Scott became a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, which led to a job at the Pentagon, where he worked as a civilian contractor for BTG Inc.

A native of Tower Hill, Illinois, Jack received a Bachelor of Science degree from Missouri University in Civil Engineering, a Master in Science degree in Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, and a Master of Science degree in International Relations from Salve Regina. Designated a Naval Aviator in 1975, he went on several deployments, held various leadership positions, accumulated more than 7,000 flight hours and 50 carrier landings. He assumed command of VR-24 in January 1991 and deployed to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in support of Operations Desert Storm/ Desert Shield. Jack retired from the Navy in July 2000. From July to November 2000, he served as senior consultant with Blue Stone Consulting of Alexandria, Virginia. In December 2000, Jack returned to the Navy as a senior civilian employee when he was appointed as Deputy Head, Navy Interagency Support Branch in the Pentagon.

Joseph J Pycior Jr. joined the Navy, something we wanted to do as far back as his parents can remember, when he graduated from high school in June 1980. He started working at the Pentagon in early 1999 and had served on a number of ships, including the USS George Washington and USS Seattle. During Operation Desert Storm, he was stationed in the Persian Gulf. He was about to complete his Bachelor's degree in History from Thomas Edison State College and retire from the Navy in January 2002. He was a beloved den leader for Cub Scouts. He was happy, outgoing, and funny. He is remembered by his parents as "a good kid" and his wife as "the perfect dad and husband."

Lisa was senior vice president of government relations at Genzyme Corporation, a major Boston biotechnology company. She had worked in the Washington area for many years and was respected on Capitol Hill for her knowledge of health care issues. She was a key figure in negotiating legislative compromises in several drug and health care disputes. Lisa worked to get her industry to support the idea of Medicare drug coverage for the elderly. When she died, she was on her way to meet company sales representatives handling Renagel, a vital drug for many kidney dialysis patients.

Deborah Ann Ramsaur served as the secretary to the Army's Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Lieutenant General Timothy J. Maude. Deborah loved her job and loved being a member of the Department of Defense. On weekends, she would wear a "hooah!" T-shirt, proudly and affectionately displaying a word associated with soldiers. She was a supermom, donating her time to raising her two children. She would fill their time together with trips to the park, to soccer games and to swimming lessons.

Rhonda and her husband, Floyd, both civilian Army employees, had traveled the globe in their combined 51 years of service. Rhonda, a budget analyst, particularly enjoyed their three stints in Germany. Rhonda learned a day prior to September 11 that she had been selected for the transfer to California that she was seeking. The Rasmussens thought about staying home on September 11 to celebrate and plan for their October move, but their sense of duty led them to work. Floyd survived the attack and he and their seven children have dedicated their lives to Rhonda's memory.

Ratchford, an information technician, was a strong-willed, friendly, quiet woman born in Detroit and raised in a large family in Mobile, Alabama. She joined the Navy about 15 years prior to the 9/11 attacks. She had many loves in her life, including working with computers and the challenge of handling crucial military messages at the Navy Command Center in the Pentagon. But few equaled her devotion as a mother.

Martha was a civilian who had worked for the Army budget office for the last eight years of her life. Friends and family describe her as a dedicated worker, but an even more dedicated mother, wife and friend. In the back yard of her Stafford County home, overlooking Aquia Creek, sits a series of plant and flower beds bordered by a long, serpentine brick wall. Against the house and surrounding the pool are more plants and trees. "She was everybody's gardener," her husband, Jim, said. "Her therapy after work was this garden. She told you how it should be, and you did it. She was the designer. I was the digger."

Todd graduated with honors from the George Washington University's National Law Center. He joined Venable, Baetjer, and Howard in 2000 and was a corporate partner at the Washington law firm. Todd specialized in tax and business transactions and was widely regarded by clients and colleagues as remarkably dedicated to the practice of law and outstanding in his field. His unmistakable passions in life were his family and sports. In addition to playing high school and college soccer, Todd was an avid fan of all local Washington sports teams, particularly the Redskins, Capitals, DC United and Maryland Terrapins. Each member of Todd's family and all of his friends and professional colleagues had the same impression of him – that he was a great person who had all of his priorities in line: family first, then friends, and finally his law practice.

Cecelia graduated from the Job Corps in 1980 with a certificate in accounting. After her graduation, she was employed with the Department of Defense and held positions at the Washington Navy Yard; Fort Belvoir, Virginia; and at the Pentagon with the Department of the Army. While employed at the Pentagon, Cecelia was an accounting technician in the Managerial Accounting Division. She received various awards for outstanding performance, customer service and achievements during her tenure. At the time of her death, she had 21 years of federal government service. Cecelia was also employed by FedEx Field, the home of the Washington Redskins, as a ramp usher on the Club Level since 1999. She also participated as a volunteer mentor in the Partnership for Education Program for public schools in Virginia.

Edward grew up in Virginia's Prince William County and interned at the Pentagon while in college. After graduating from George Mason University in 1992 with degrees in Accounting and Management Information Systems, he was hired at the Pentagon as a civilian accountant and Management Information Systems guru. One of his favorite things to do was to take his 7-year-old daughter to his Pentagon office, whether it was for "Take Our Daughters to Work Day" or just to give his wife a break at home. One time, the two had a picnic lunch at the Washington Monument. The visits were part of the comfortable domestic routine embraced by Edward, a civilian accountant for the Army.

Judy was reared in San Angelo, Texas, and entered federal service in 1986. She worked in a wide variety of positions prior to beginning work as a transportation assistant with the Defense Resources Activity Washington. Her co-workers widely respected her specialized organizational skills and attention to detail. Friends and family remember her as a truly phenomenal woman, never resisting a challenge and always doing her best at everything she touched. Judy's daughters know her as a true role model for all people, with the resilience to rise to any challenge and overcome it. Judy showed all who knew her how to rise to their full potential.

After 23 years of military service, where he served two tours in Germany, one tour in South Korea and one tour in Belgium, Robert retired from active duty in 1993. He entered into the civilian federal government service as a budget analyst. Shortly before his death, he was promoted to the position of supervisory budget analyst. Robert can best be remembered for his calm, analytical personality. He was a source of constant comfort and counsel to his numerous friends and relatives. But his major contribution to all who knew him was his great culinary skills. His "Hershey Pound Cake" and pineapple ice cream were in constant demand. His family and his wife's family spent every holiday at the Russell home, primarily because they knew "Bobby" was cooking.

A veteran of two wars and a social studies teacher for nearly 30 years, Ruth served in the Marines during the Vietnam War, where he was a helicopter pilot. After he left Vietnam, he received a Master's degree and taught for nearly three decades. He was a voracious reader and taught deep lessons in history. He served in the Army Reserve. When the Persian Gulf War broke out, he was pulled out of the classroom and sent to the Middle East. In 1997, Ruth retired from teaching and took an Army job at the Pentagon.

After graduating in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science degree from Drexel Institute of Technology, Chuck began his federal service career as an accountant with the Army Audit Agency. He was commissioned and served on active duty with the Army in Belgium, and then in Holland. Upon his return to the United States, Chuck continued his civilian career with the Army. He received a Master's degree in Business Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University and the U.S. Army Commander's Award for Civilian Service. He joined the Defense Intelligence Agency in 1981 as an accountant, and went on to become DIA's senior financial resources expert as a Defense Intelligence Senior Level appointee. Chuck received the Director's Award for Meritorious Service and the Director's Award for Exceptional Service. He provided expert counsel to senior leadership and personal mentoring to many DIA employees.

Marjorie grew up on a dairy farm in Pine Mountain, Georgia. She graduated from high school at the age of 16 and earned her Bachelor's degree with honors in Textile Chemistry at Auburn University, as well as her Master's degree in Textile Science. She was an Army budget analyst at the Pentagon. Marjorie was a person with a deep faith in God and a family whom she loved, admired and respected, and for whom she felt deep gratitude. She was a person who never complained and freely gave of her time to ensure that her husband and daughters were successful.

John was born in New York and went to Washington in the 1980s to study at George Washington University, then earned a Master's degree at Johns Hopkins University. Out of college, John was hired as an engineer at the Naval Research Lab; he had worked 11 years at XonTech, a research and development firm involved in defense issues.

David, a talented pianist, graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in Music Composition. He received a Master of Business Administration degree from Southern Illinois University. He was commissioned through Army ROTC in 1978, serving in Sharonville, Ohio, before going to South Korea in 1979 as an ambulance platoon leader. He later served in Denver; Aurora, Colorado; St. Louis; and at Fort Monroe, Virginia. David was assigned in May 2001 as the personnel policy integrator in the deputy chief of staff's office, working at the highest level of Army personnel policy after a distinguished career with the Army Reserve. He focused on a number of initiatives that affect the readiness of the Army Reserve.

Robert graduated magna cum laude from Washington and Lee University in 1985 with degrees in both French and Journalism. He received his commission in 1986 and held a Master of Arts degree in International Affairs from Old Dominion University and received a Naval War College diploma for completion of the Joint Professional Military Education program. Before being posted to the Pentagon, Robert was executive officer of the USS Arthur W. Radford, a 9,000-ton destroyer. That assignment followed tours aboard the USS Scott and the USS Yarnell. Robert carried on a Navy tradition deeply embedded in his family, as his father and two brothers also served in the Navy.

Janice entered the federal government workforce as a check control officer with the Army Finance Office in Switzingen, Germany, then as an accountant with the European Army Accounting Office in Leiman, Germany. In 1988, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from University of Maryland in College Park. This great achievement was instrumental in helping her to acquire a budget officer position with Resource Services Washington of the Office of Assistant Administration in the Pentagon. Janice was promoted in June 2001 as a budget team leader with Resource Services Washington. She was a member of Blacks in Government, 5-Star Toastmasters Club, Association of Government Accountants, and the Burke-Fairfax Chapter of Jack and Jill of America Inc.

Over the course of a 20-year Army career, Michael served in South Korea and Italy, advancing to the rank of lieutenant colonel. In 1996, as a civilian, he became director of the Army's Information Management Support Center at the Pentagon. A University of Oregon graduate; he was an ardent fan of the Ducks and an avid golfer. Friends and family said Selves was as skillful with jokes as he was with a putter, and he developed close friendships wherever he went.

Marian was a congressional affairs contact officer for the Army. She had worked at the Pentagon for 15 years. She met her high school sweetheart in Greenville, North Carolina, and later eloped. He enlisted in the Army, and they traveled the world, raising their daughter. She indulged her love of all things outdoors, including growing tomatoes, flowers and exotic shrubs at their Stafford County home.

Dan attended Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin, graduating in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. He attended Aviation Officer School in Pensacola, Florida, and received his commission as an ensign in 1985. After graduating from the Armed Forces Air Intelligence Training Course at Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado, he reported to VAQ-136 onboard USS Midway. He transitioned to the Navy Reserve as a foreign service officer with the U.S. State Department in the Philippines. Dan was recalled to active duty in November 1994. In August 2000, he was selected as the officer in charge of the Chief of Naval Operations Intelligence Plot. There, he was responsible for the provision of current intelligence support to the Navy Secretariat, Chief of Naval Operations staff, and the Director of Naval Intelligence. In December 2000, he was promoted to his final rank of commander.

There was nothing Antionette "Toni" Sherman loved more than ending her day with an impromptu fishing trip. After a long day crunching numbers in the Pentagon, Toni would pick up her foster son and fishing gear and head to her favorite spot. A federal employee since 1983, Toni was working as an Army budget analyst when Flight 77 hit the Pentagon. She was one of the first victims to be airlifted to a hospital. She died of her injuries at Washington Hospital Center's burn unit.

Diane was as a passenger on Flight 77, along with her beloved husband of 19 years, George W. Simmons. She was a very loving wife, grandmother, mother, sister, aunt and friend who always seemed to know when to give a big hug, kind word or how to make a loved one feel special. Diane loved to cook and some of the best meals at "Chez Nana" were created while she was experimenting. Diane will always be remembered for her love of family and friends.

Don was born and raised in Illinois and served in the Army from 1964 to 1966. He met his wife, Peggy, while assigned to Fort Myer, Virginia, and they were married in 1968. His innate honesty, love of God and generous spirit made him a friend to everyone. He was an avid fisherman, inventor and artist. He was very interested in Republican politics and was a true patriot.

George was as a passenger on Flight 77, along with his beloved wife of 19 years, Diane. George retired from Xerox Corp., where he worked for 32 years as a Manager of Sales Training; he spent his remaining years at the training center in Leesburg, Virginia. George was an avid golfer, took pride in his martini-making skills, was a member of the No Bats Baseball Club, and loved to travel, sending postcards from all over the world.

Cheryle was 15-year civil service employee, mother of four children, and beloved wife. Her dedication to her job and her family best describes her purpose in life. Cheryle was the third of 13 children, born in Currie, Minnesota. She was well loved by her family and all who knew her for her many kind acts. Her spirit of giving will not be forgotten.

Gregg Smallwood served 19 years in the Navy, reaching the rank of chief petty officer in 2000 in his Pentagon post at the Office of the Chief Information Systems Technician. His career in the United States Navy included duty stations at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas; Western Pacific Guam, USS Reasoner; Naval Computer Telecommunications Station San Diego, California; Naval Air Station North Island, California; Naval Computer Telecommunications Station, Diego Garcia; USS Harry W. Hill; and Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C.

Gary Smith was serving as the Chief of Army Retirement Services when the plane crashed into the Pentagon. He began his military career in 1968 with an ROTC commission from Creighton University. His first command assignment was as company commander/Platoon leader with the 560th Signal Battalion in Vicenza, Italy. He then served as a communications officer with the 546th Infantry and as an assistant S-3 and S-4 of the 523rd Signal Battalion, 23rd Infantry Division deployed at Chu-Lai in South Vietnam. From September 1971 through July 1974, he served as aide-de-camp and training officer with the Test and Evaluation Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Then he was assigned as executive officer and adjutant at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. After an assignment as equal opportunity officer with the Military District of Washington, he went overseas once more to serve as G-1 and adjutant general with the Allied Forces Central Europe Reserve Corps. Returning to Washington in the summer of 1984, he served in the office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Alcohol and Drug Policy Branch, Headquarters Department of the Army. From 1989 until his active duty military retirement in 1991, he served as Chief, Retired and Veterans Affairs, and later as Deputy Director and Director, Army Family Support Directorate of the Army Community and Family Support Center. Gary earned a Master of Science degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California.

Mari-Rae Sopper was on her way to the University of California at Santa Barbara to the job of her dreams: women's gymnastics coach. She had accepted the post in August, knowing that the school intended to phase out the team after the season. But that didn't deter the tenacious 5-foot-2 gymnast and lawyer. She planned to persuade the school to keep the team alive. Sopper earned a law degree from the Denver University School of Law while working as an assistant coach at the Colorado Gymnastics Institute. In 1996, she moved to Washington, where she joined the Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps as a lieutenant, defending sailors in their appeals of criminal cases for four years.

Robert was executive vice president at Lazare Kaplan International in New York, a worldwide diamond manufacturer. Mr. Speisman had worked at Lazare Kaplan for 17 years and was also a member of its board. He was married to a daughter of Lazare Kaplan's chairman, Maurice Tempelsman. Mr. Speisman was also chairman of the board of trustees of the American Gem Society.

Patricia was born in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, and attended McDonell High School. She pursued a degree in Theater at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire that she completed at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1983. She traveled to Germany a year later to work as an actress and director at U.S. Army base theaters in Heidelberg and Bamberg. Patricia traveled extensively across Europe; she enjoyed playing tour guide during the many visits from family and friends. She also obtained a Master's degree in Education while in Germany. Patricia and her family moved back to the United States in 2000, and she started work at the Pentagon. Patricia was working on her doctorate degree in Education and was active with local schools.

Edna Stephens moved to Washington, D.C., shortly after she graduated from high school and began her professional career working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. However, for the last 34 years she worked for the Army and the Defense Department with various job titles in various locations at the Pentagon. Her last assignment was in the Resource Management Office, where she worked as a budget analyst. Edna loved her family, her church and her friends, but she gave her heart and soul to God.

Norma loved serving the community through her job as a clinical psychologist and through her church, but she also loved to travel. She was valedictorian of her class at Carnegie Mellon University, held a Master's degree from Temple University, and a Doctorate from the University of Wisconsin. The vivacious, petite woman was known for her interest in community service, particularly through the Blessed Sacrament Catholic community and her daughters’ schools.

Sergeant Major Strickland served as the senior enlisted advisor to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel. Larry had over 29 years of service and was scheduled to retire upon completion of 30 years of service. He attended the University of Washington for three years before enlisting in the Army in May 1972. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree while in the Army from Regents College of New York. He served in assignments in all aspects of personnel administration.

Hilda was a veteran teacher at M.V. Leckie Elementary School in Southwest Washington. She taught sixth grade and was on her way to California on a National Geographic field trip when the plane slammed into the Pentagon. Hilda was born in Sierra Leone and came to the United States many years ago in search of a better life for herself and her children. She received a Master's degree from the University of the District of Columbia. Hilda loved the classroom, her students, and the thought that she was helping to develop young minds.

Lieutenant Colonel Kip P. Taylor was commissioned into the Army's Adjutant General Corps at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan, in 1985 by his father, Lieutenant Colonel Donald R. Taylor. Kip received scholarships for both the ROTC and basketball, and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Management. He earned his Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies at the Naval War College. His key military assignments included his position as the executive officer to the U.S. Army Regional Personnel Center in Nuremberg, Germany; the doctrine and curriculum developer at the Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, Army Personnel School; the adjutant and personnel detachment commander of a special operations unit at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and as the military assistant to Lieutenant General Timothy J. Maude, the Army's Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel.

Lenny obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics with Honors from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1979. After graduation, he took a position as an analyst with XonTech Inc. in Van Nuys, California. While in California, Lenny continued his avid interest in hockey, playing both amateur and semipro hockey and coaching youth hockey. In 1989, he transferred to XonTech's Washington, D.C., office, where he continued his career becoming a technical group manager. Lenny became very involved in bike riding. He often rode the 20 miles one way to work and participated in various bike races and tours for local charities.

Sandi worked for the government for almost 30 years and worked at the Pentagon for almost 10. Although she was very dedicated to her daily job, it did not define her as a person. Sandi was very interested in serving others. She began her work as a volunteer at the Women's Center in Vienna, Virginia, and then became a volunteer at the Hospice of Northern Virginia in 1998 where she shared her time until her death. "She was a child of the ’60s, a lover of family, a lover of friends, and a lover of the less fortunate," one friend said. "Fixed on the past, Sandi was also anchored in the present."

Sandra couldn't wait to get on American Airlines Flight 77, the first leg of a three-week trip to Australia. It was going to be her first trip abroad. Sandra was a warm, witty, vivacious and athletic woman. She moved to the Washington area in 2000 from Des Moines, where she received her Master's degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences in 1998. She was a physical therapist at Georgetown University Hospital. She loved to travel, and anywhere she went she would take pictures. She was just really into living and sharing life. In a lot of ways, she was like a small child, just beginning to realize what life was about and full of the fun of taking it all in.

Karl was born in St. Louis. He grew up in Jennings, Missouri, and graduated from Riverview Gardens High School in Bellefontaine, where he was a member of the golf team. Karl received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1967 from the University of Illinois, and entered active duty as an air defense artillery Army officer. After just under two years on active duty, he left the service, but reentered the Army in April 1971. He went on to serve with distinction for more than 20 additional years. He was an ROTC instructor at the University of Missouri in the mid-1970s, and received a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Missouri in 1975. Karl is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and served in both Germany and South Korea. He retired from the Army as a lieutenant colonel in 1991. Karl immediately joined the Defense Intelligence Agency as a civilian financial resources manager in the Office of the Deputy Comptroller for Program and Budget.

Tamara, who enlisted out of high school, served in Bosnia, South Korea and Germany. She had been awarded the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, and the Army Good Conduct Medal. At the Pentagon, she worked as an assistant in the office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel. Tamara loved basketball and music.

Vince was born in Tennessee. Following his very successful athletic performance at Lemoore High School, he was awarded a football scholarship to Fresno State University. Graduating from Fresno State in 1985 with a degree in Criminal Justice, he was commissioned an ensign at Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1989. Following completion of Surface Warfare Officer training, Vince reported to USS Niagra Falls, and later deployed from Guam in support of Operation Desert Storm. After his 1994 graduation from the Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center in Dam Neck, Virginia, Vince returned to sea and reported to USS Constellation at Naval Air Station North Island, California. He again deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch. Following his initial year at the National Maritime Intelligence Center, Vince was hand-picked to serve in the Pentagon on the Chief of Naval Operations Intelligence Plot staff, and was assistant officer in charge when the Pentagon was attacked.

Upon graduation from West Columbus High School in 1968, Willie moved to Washington, D.C. to find better employment opportunities. However, he was drafted into the Army in 1970 and served in Vietnam as a guard to Gen. Chreighton Abrams. Although he was wounded during the course of his tour, he stayed in Vietnam until his assignment was completed. As a result of the injury received in Vietnam, he retired after 15 1⁄2 years with full retirement and benefits as a disabled veteran. Willie and his wife spent the next 15 years working and living overseas. Upon their return to the United States, Willie was selected for employment at the Pentagon. His appearance was always impeccable, reflecting his pride at working at the nerve center of the military.

Lieutenant Commander Vauk earned an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating with a commission and a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science in 1987. After nuclear power school training, Ron served on the submarines USS Glenard P. Lipscomb and the USS Oklahoma City, attaining the rank of lieutenant commander. He left active duty for the Navy Reserve in 1993. He was serving the second day of his annual reserve duty at the Pentagon when the terrorists’ plane hit. Ron worked for several years as a project manager at Delex Systems and RSIS Inc. before joining the submarine technology department of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory outside Columbia, Maryland. While there, he earned a Master's degree in Business from the University of Maryland and rose quickly to become an assistant group supervisor and task leader for a number of diverse projects.

Karen was born at Fort Riley, Kansas, and grew up in a military family in San Antonio. She was a distinguished military graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and was commissioned on Feb. 14, 1984, as a Medical Service Corps officer. In her 17 years in uniform, she rose to the position of medical personnel officer in the Office of the Army Surgeon General and Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel. An avid watcher of the Food Network, Wagner liked to relieve stress by taking long runs, her athleticism honed during her college days in Las Vegas, where she played guard on the university's women's basketball team. As successful as Karen was in the Army, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel with a desk in the Pentagon, she was sketching out options for the second act in her life, something to balance her military career. Karen entertained the idea of teaching overseas or maybe hosting a cooking show on television with her sister.

When Meta returned from the World Conference on Racism, she told her family it had changed her life. Meta attended the conference with a group of school children, taking time off from her work at the Pentagon, where she was special programs manager for the administrative assistant to the Secretary of the Army. She had worked there 12 years and was at her desk when the hijacked airliner slammed into the building. Meta grew up in Framingham, Massachusetts, and received her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and her Master's degree in Government from Harvard.

Chin Sun was born in Tongduchun, South Korea. In 1980, her family moved to Lawton, Oklahoma, where she resided for 18 years. She was inducted into the National Honor Society at Eisenhower High School, from which she graduated in 1995. While attending Eisenhower High School, she played basketball and softball. Her hobbies included gardening, photography and music. After high school, she worked two years for Wal-Mart as a Customer Service Manager in Lawton before entering the military. She joined the U.S. Army in 1998 and completed her basic and advanced individual training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. She then served a tour of duty in South Korea before becoming the Administrative Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel at the Pentagon. When her military service was completed, she planned to enroll in college and study medicine. Her hobbies included gardening, photography and music.

Maudlyn was born on the island of Montserrat. At the age of 12, she moved to St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, which she called her home. Having the opportunity to take advantage of the Army College Fund, Maudlyn enlisted into the Army in 1985. A passionate seeker of knowledge, Maudlyn continued her education and earned a Bachelor's degree from Strayer University in Computer Information Technology. Her military assignments included overseas tours in Frankfurt, Germany, and at Camp Casey in South Korea, and duty in Chicago and in Alexandria, Virginia. Her most recent assignment was with the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Programs. Maudlyn enjoyed running, reading, bowling and spending quality time with her daughter.

Sandra was born in Newport News, Virginia. She accepted Christ in her early teens while living in Hampton, Virginia. Her early life was centered around local churches that included New Grafton Baptist Church and Lincoln Park Baptist Church. She attended Virginia State University and graduated from Hampton Roads Business College in Accounting. Sandra worked at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, Virginia, for a short period. After her marriage, Sandra became a career Department of the Army civil servant with 15 years in the fields of budgeting and accounting. She loved her career field. Her most recent assignment was as a budget analyst within Resource Service Washington, Pentagon.

In April 2001, after 40 years of dedicated service to the United States Army, Ernie retired from his civilian post in the Army General Counsel's office and became an associate of Booz, Allen, & Hamilton, consulting at the Pentagon a few days each week. Ernie received an undergraduate degree in Business from the University of Maryland and a law degree from American University, which he earned at night while working for the Army. He served in the Army for three years and spent 37 years as a civilian employee in various posts. He was assigned to the U.S. Army Map Service; Walter Reed Army Medical Center; Fort Detrick, Maryland; and then to the Army General Counsel's Office in the Pentagon. Ernie was the devoted father of two sons. He never missed a baseball game or a school play; his sons’ successes were his greatest source of pride.

Dave grew up in Los Gatos, California, before moving to Virginia. He graduated in 1987 from South Lakes High School in Reston, Virginia, where he was on the varsity track team. He graduated from Virginia Military Institute in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Upon receiving a commission, he attended Surface Warfare Officer's School. His first sea assignment was aboard USS Gunston Hall, where he completed two Mediterranean deployments. He graduated from Surface Warfare Department Head School and was assigned as Operations Officer aboard the USS Whidbey Island, where he completed a UNITAS deployment to the Caribbean and South America. May 1997, Dave assumed duties as the Operations Officer aboard USS I during a deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and participated in Nashville's operations near Vieques, Puerto Rico, in 1999. He graduated with a Master of Arts degree in National Security Affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1996. His final assignment was as an action officer on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations, serving in the Office of Strategy and Concepts. He was selected to serve as an executive officer afloat.

After graduating from the Army Command and General Staff College in June 2001, Dwayne reported to the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel at the Pentagon, where he served as the Joint Officer Distribution Manager under the Director for Military Personnel Management. In each of his assignments, Dwayne served with distinction, professionalism and pride. He loved his job, his Army and his country, and dedicated his life to the service of his family and his nation. He touched hundreds of lives with his enthusiasm, energy and love of God and country. He mentored young officers and provided wise counsel and guidance to his soldiers and noncommissioned officers. America's soldiers were well cared for and well trained under the leadership of Major Dwayne Williams.

Marvin Roger Woods, known as "Roger" to friends and family – grew up in Owendale, Michigan. The son of a sailor, he enlisted in the Navy when he was in high school and went on to serve for 23 years. When he retired from the Navy in 1984, he took a six-week vacation, then reported back to his office at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station and continued in his job as director of communications, but as a civilian. He served a tour in Vietnam and was proud of the 40 years he gave to his country.

Born in Barren Run, Pennsylvania, in 1930, John attended McKeesport Pennsylvania High School, a football powerhouse where he was a standout on a team that won the state championship, and he played in the Scholastic Orange Bowl on Christmas Day 1947. He also played basketball and set records as a member of the championship 880-yard relay team. John was a scholar-athlete with an outstanding academic record sought after by numerous schools. He was a key member of the U.S. Naval Academy team that defeated Army 14-2 in the 1950 Classic. John was a jewel in the Navy's and Naval Academy's crowns, a warrior who fought in Korea and flew three combat tours in Vietnam. After the Gulf of Tonkin incident, John flew some of the first strikes in North Vietnam. Then, following a year at the Naval War College in Rhode Island, during which he also earned a Master's degree in International Affairs, John returned to Squadron 172 as executive officer, later as commanding officer. Shortly after graduation, John was an assault wave commander carrying Marines ashore in Korea and then began a career in naval aviation, which resulted in more than 900 aircraft carrier landings. After retiring in 1979, John became a consultant to the Test Center at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland. On September 11, John was en route to China Lake, California, to work on a missile program.

Vicki was an eager worker and an even more eager traveler. The former naval electronics technician, bound for a business conference in Reno, Nevada, was on the first of what she hoped would be many trips for Vredenburg, a Washington-based defense contractor for which she worked. In 1991, she wrote a letter to the Washington Post lamenting the demise of the one-income family. That led to an appearance before the Senate Finance Committee, where she testified about the struggles of middle-class families. USA Today, CNN, and PBS followed up with stories. Vicki wasn't supposed to be on American Airlines Flight 77. Ticketing problems delayed her departure on an earlier flight, and she made it onto the American plane with minutes to spare. This mother of two daughters loved politics, figure skating and the beach.

The couple, on board American Airlines Flight 77, were on their way back to China after an extended visit with their daughter in the Baltimore area. Yuguang, a chemist before retirement, graduated from Nanjing University; he majored in Analytical Chemistry. Shuyin graduated from Shanghai Second Medical University and was a retired pediatrician. The couple was married for 35 years and raised a son and a daughter. They were very loving and affectionate, although they had quite different hobbies and personalities. Yuguang loved painting and was accomplished at Taichi. Shuyin was an active, open-minded and kind lady. She loved to try everything that was novel to her, even though sometimes it was a little risky. She liked cooking and was very good at it. . Definitely the most important thing about her was that she was a good mother. For their family members, the only thing that provides relief is knowing that the devoted couple was together all the time, even at the last minute of their lives. To both Yuguang and Shuyin, family was the most important thing. They loved each other and their children.

Kevin grew up in Lake Charles and graduated from LaGrange High School. On September 11, he was serving at the Pentagon as an intelligence technician. He joined the Navy right out of high school. He was stationed in San Diego and traveled the world, but would come home to Lake Charles once or twice a year. He had been stationed at the Pentagon for the last three years of his life and lived nearby in Maryland. Kevin like sports a lot, especially basketball. "Kevin was a young man who was strong of character, honest, and one who always wanted to encourage and help other people," a friend said.

A Chief of Naval Operations information systems technician, Donald Young died while performing his assigned duties at the Pentagon, one week before his 42nd birthday. A veteran of the Persian Gulf War, he received numerous medals. Before entering the Navy, Donald attended William Fleming High School in Roanoke, Virginia, where he played football. He later received a scholarship to attend North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, North Carolina. In his spare time, Donald enjoyed toying around with his computer, watching movies, and playing sports. Donald was a loving husband, son and brother, and he was concerned about all of his family. Whenever his mother was ill, he was there caring for her. He was a person who considered the safety and well-being of others first, putting himself last. Donald was a very quiet, but compassionate, person who would do anything for his fellow man, his teammates and his family.

Edmond, better known as "E.G.," attended Peters United Methodist Church, where he served as a youth choir and Usher Board member. While in high school, his interest in computers led him to the Calvert Career Center. Later, he received an Associate's degree in Computer Applications and Network Administration at the Computer Learning Center in 1999. He completed two of the seven Microsoft certification exams. Edmond began his career as a help desk analyst for CACI. Later, he became a desktop support technician for BTG Inc. He was transferred to the Pentagon in 2001, where he supported the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Army Division. Edmond enjoyed mentoring teens, playing basketball and spending time with his friends. The highlight of his life was the birth of his son.

Lisa was a devoted mother, loving sister and best friend. She had a very special way of getting along with everyone. Born in Washington, D.C., she graduated from H.D. Woodson Senior High School in 1981 on the dean's list. She studied at Georgetown University to become a dental hygienist. In 1986, Lisa took a civil service exam and became a very proud federal employee of the U.S. Department of Defense, Deputy Chief of Staff for Persoinnel, Army. She worked as a personnel assistant at the Pentagon for 15 years. Lisa enjoyed the precision, the sense of purpose and the excitement of working for the Army. She brought so much joy to all the people she worked with. She was a hard worker and will never be forgotten by her superiors and co-workers. But her main focus and priority was her daughter, in her words, "her miracle baby." Her daughter was her life.

The couple, on board American Airlines Flight 77, were on their way back to China after an extended visit with their daughter in the Baltimore area. Yuguang, a chemist before retirement, graduated from Nanjing University; he majored in Analytical Chemistry. Shuyin graduated from Shanghai Second Medical University and was a retired pediatrician. The couple was married for 35 years and raised a son and a daughter. They were very loving and affectionate, although they had quite different hobbies and personalities. Yuguang loved painting and was accomplished at Taichi. Shuyin was an active, open-minded and kind lady. She loved to try everything that was novel to her, even though sometimes it was a little risky. She liked cooking and was very good at it. Definitely the most important thing about her was that she was a good mother. For their family members, the only thing that provides relief is knowing that the devoted couple was together all the time, even at the last minute of their lives. To both Yuguang and Shuyin, family was the most important thing. They loved each other and their children.

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