[This article was submitted by Stella Naulo]
Around the outer edge, 184 red glass pieces honor each of the lives lost that day, with 125 inside the Pentagon and 59 aboard American Airlines Flight 77. VIEW ORIGINAL
Around the outer edge, 184 red glass pieces honor each of the lives lost that day, with 125 inside the Pentagon and 59 aboard American Airlines Flight 77. VIEW ORIGINAL
WASHINGTON — Twenty-four years ago today, America endured a harrowing terror attack that struck at the very heart of the Nation. On Sept. 11, 2001, hijacked planes crashed into the Twin Towers in New York City and the Pentagon, shattering thousands of lives and leaving an indelible mark on our history. Aboard United Flight 93, passengers confronted hijackers on a fourth plane, and their final act of resistance, which ended in a crash near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, is remembered alongside all who were lost on that day.
Before that day, the Pentagon had no dedicated chapel. Services, scripture studies, and prayer gatherings were held in scattered conference and meeting rooms. But in the aftermath of the attacks, the president, the secretary of defense, and the Army chief of chaplains recognized the need for a permanent sacred space where people could reflect, mourn, and heal. Just one year later, on the first anniversary of the attacks, the Pentagon Memorial Chapel was dedicated, built from the ashes of tragedy.
At the heart of the chapel are its stained-glass windows, crafted from countless fragments joined together to transform broken pieces into something whole. Chaplains assembled the glass for the chapel’s central window, designed after the five-sided Survivor’s Pin given to survivors of the Pentagon attack. Its imagery is rich in meaning: the American flag and bald eagle as enduring symbols of the Nation, gold panels as signs of hope, and an olive branch representing the Department of Defense’s mission to preserve peace and justice. Around the outer edge, 184 red glass pieces honor each of the lives lost that day, with 125 inside the Pentagon and 59 aboard American Airlines Flight 77.
Each offers a distinct message, but collectively they remind all who enter that even in the midst of devastation, faith provides strength and stability. VIEW ORIGINAL
The first window, "Anchor of Faith," is dedicated to the U.S. Navy. It teaches that belief must be anchored in the eternal. VIEW ORIGINAL
The second and third windows together are entitled "Broken Heart of God," capturing God’s grief over human destruction.
The second window honors the Army G-1 Manpower and Reserve Affairs, and the Defense Intelligence Agency. VIEW ORIGINAL
The second and third windows together are entitled "Broken Heart of God," capturing God’s grief over human destruction.
The third window is dedicated to the passengers of American Airlines Flight 77. VIEW ORIGINAL
The fourth window, "Tree of Faith," is dedicated to the Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army. It recalls the acacia wood used to build the Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing resilience through life’s storms. VIEW ORIGINAL
Along the wall that faces the outdoor National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, four additional stained-glass windows extend this story. Each offers a distinct message, but collectively they remind all who enter that even in the midst of devastation, faith provides strength and stability. The first window, "Anchor of Faith," is dedicated to the U.S. Navy. It teaches that belief must be anchored in the eternal.
The second and third windows together are entitled "Broken Heart of God," capturing God’s grief over human destruction. The second window honors the Army G-1 Manpower and Reserve Affairs, and the Defense Intelligence Agency; the third is dedicated to the passengers of American Airlines Flight 77.
The fourth window, "Tree of Faith," is dedicated to the Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army. It recalls the acacia wood used to build the Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing resilience through life’s storms.
Another tells the story of the Four Chaplains aboard the U.S. Army Transport Dorchester on February 3, 1943, who gave their life vests and their prayers to Soldiers as the ship sank after a German U-boat attack. Chaplains George Fox, Alexander Goode, John Washington, and Clark Poling became a timeless emblem of selfless service.
The final installation turns to the heavens, depicting Neil Armstrong’s landing on the moon alongside the scripture, “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth,” a celebration of human achievement and faith in the Creator. VIEW ORIGINAL
Beyond the main chapel, the adjoining hallway continues this narrative through three stained-glass installations. One portrays General George Washington kneeling in prayer at Valley Forge, a reflection of the faith of the Founding Fathers and a legacy we honor this year in marking 250 years of the Army Chaplain Corps.
Another tells the story of the Four Chaplains aboard the U.S. Army Transport Dorchester on February 3, 1943, who gave their life vests and their prayers to Soldiers as the ship sank after a German U-boat attack. Chaplains George Fox, Alexander Goode, John Washington, and Clark Poling became a timeless emblem of selfless service.
The final installation turns to the heavens, depicting Neil Armstrong’s landing on the moon alongside the scripture, “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth,” a celebration of human achievement and faith in the Creator.
Since its dedication, the Pentagon Memorial Chapel has remained a spiritual anchor at the very heart of the Department of Defense. Born of destruction, it stands as a living tribute to the fallen and as a testament to the enduring strength of a Nation that will never forget.
Social Sharing