Posted on 09/11/2001 8:59:44 PM PDT by kristinn
I work just across the Potomac River from the Pentagon, in Southwest Washington, D.C. Like alot of us, I watched in awe as the the World Trade Center towers in New York City were destroyed this morning in a bizarre terrorist attack involving two passengers jets crashing into the twin towers.
Around 9:30 a.m., someone in my office received a call from a friend of his who told him a plane had just crashed into the Pentagon. This wasn't being reported on the news, so I ran outside to see what I could see. Sure enough, dark smoke was rapidly rising from across the river where the Pentagon lies.
The distant feelings of seeing a major terrorist attack on TV were replaced by the immediacy of seeing the results of a similar attack in real life. Back in the office, news reports (which hours later turned out to be false) caused concern as explosions were said to have occured at nearby Capitol Hill and the State Department downtown and that another terrorist plane was headed for D.C.
I chose to stay at work, leaving it in God's hands what would become of me today. As things turned out, no more terrorist actions occurred in D.C.
Later in the afternoon, I drove around town and by the Pentagon with tgslTakoma. We picked up some copies of The Washington Post's special edition (which was a good issue, actually) on our way back to my neighborhood at 16th and U St., NW.
Rush-hour traffic was almost non-existent, adding to the eerieness of the day. We went to the roof of my building, which has a panoramic view of the city. I looked around at the beautiful blue skies which stretched from horizon to horizon and noted the ugly blemish of the smoke still pouring forth from the Pentagon.
Just as I commented on the absence of air traffic, tgslTakoma saw a descending white jumbo jet in the southeast horizon disappear below our line of sight. A minute later, two F-16s came screaming by overhead from the southeast, rapidly ascending as they banked first west and then to the northeast and out of sight. A few minutes later when we were back in the car, we learned from news reports on the radio that we had just witnessed President Bush return to Washington.
I bought a disposable camera and we went downtown to check out the White House. A perimeter had been established two blocks around it on all sides. We could still see it from 16th and I St. In fact, we were close enough to make out the black- clad ERTs on the roof.
We drove out of town to see the Pentagon. On our way out, the Mall by the Washington Monument was swarming with military helicopters which had accompanied Marine One as it carried the President back to the White House. However, we saw no troops on the ground. There was a strong police presence, but nothing anyone could call a police state.
We drove across Memorial Bridge and down to the Shirley Hwy. Smoke still billowed out from the Pentagon as twilight approached. All roads leading to it were blocked by police. The closest we could get was driving by on the Shirley Hwy. Even from that distance, the gaping wound left by the plane could be plainly seen. It was a sad and maddening sight--made even more so because I knew one of the passengers.
Washington Monument in Background
View of Crash From Shirley Hwy
White House, September 11, 2001
To all who've responded, thanks for your concern. Most of D.C. will be going back to work today, as will I, but our thoughts will be elsewhere.
Any word on how many were lost at the Pentagon? Last news report said..100-800 were lost there. But the first reports said the numbers were @ 30-35, because that section of the Pentagon had just been refurbished and not even 'open' for 'business'.
You mentioned:
It is a testament to the strength of America's belief in Freedom, and President Bush's trust in his fellow citizens, that our nation's capital was not turned into a militarized zone today
Me, too! So far, so good....
I still can't believe that Barbara Olsen is gone. I simply cannot wrap my mind around that thought...
Thank you for the pictures and yet another thoughtful DC report.
One of my bosses was driving in on I-395 past the Pentagon and saw the plane crash into the building. She said everyone was in shock. The plane had disappeared into the building and flames and smoke were all they could see. Cars stopped, people pulled over and got out of their cars. The FBI was there almost immediately closing roads and redirecting traffic. But it took a long time to clear the roads and people helplessly watched the carnage wondering what was next.
I had no trouble getting home on the metro train when I left at 2:30 p.m. The city was very quiet with few people on the streets. The cordoned off area surrounding the White House was a street away from the block where my building is located and the police/Secret Service presence was visible.
Unfortunately, my cable and roadrunner Internet access were down the whole evening and I was unable to communicate or see much other than the local channels on a TV with an old antenna.
This morning the metro trains are running smoothly and the cordoned off area around the White House has been moved back. People on the train and in the streets were subdued, but going about their normal schedules.
PS - nice beard, starting to look like mine.
Thank you. An important message that the press has overlooked.
I miss all your adventurous reports...you guys must have time to cut your lawn and wash the windows now!
I miss all your adventurous reports...you guys must have time to cut your lawn and wash the windows now!
The White House Tour is an even more meaningful memory now.
There are people everywhere with red, white and blue ribbons, clothing or flags; and conversations heard when walking down the street mentioned the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance, the lighting of candles at 7 p.m. this evening and attending church or memorial services.
The military presence is now on the streets of DC.
I was going to say the same is true in NYC, but then I saw Angelwood's post. The part of Manhattan that is open and getting back to "normal" does have more of a police presence than it used to, but there aren't soldiers in the streets. The downtown area that is closed off does have some National Guard troops in Humvees.
Kristinn, thanks for the report and pictures. Take care.
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