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In an effort to
grasp the magnitude of the event and the loss sustained by the families,
friends, and co-workers as well as the nation, this proposal for the
Pentagon Memorial embraces simplicity in its goal to provide a place of
quiet contemplation that celebrates life.
A grove of 184 Japanese flowering cherry trees (prunus serrulata) populate
the site. Each one represents a person lost in the tragedy. Lines of trees
radiate from the center of the Pentagon building. The grove is symbolic of
the collective memory of working, living and being together. The dappled
light, shade, and silence created by the cherry trees help encourage
self-reflection and peace while symbolizing the strength, spirit, integrity
and freedom of America. Simple moveable wooden benches will be randomly
dispersed through the grove.
A circular limestone reflecting pool, located in the middle
of the grove, provides an important pause and will offer a literal and
figurative moment of reflection. A seven-foot-high brushed stainless steel
wall will capture the changing quality of light and serve as a backdrop for
the trees, articulating the boundaries of the grove. All the names will be
etched on the wall with the suggestion that an inscription will also be
chosen or written by the families, friends, and co-workers. The selected
materials of this proposal attempt to convey the hope, strength, remembrance
and tolerance required at this time, to be shared with future generations.
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