I was invited to attend the one-year commemoration of the attack on the Pentagon on the morning of September 11, 2002. I loaded up my pockets with tissues and my camera with fresh batteries. Here are some pictures:

                                               
The day dawned over the Potomac River bright and clear. Just as it had a year ago.

                                               
My ticket allowed me to sit in the VIP section which was behind the section reserved for the surviving relatives of those killed in the attack on the Pentagon. It was in the same section as those who had been injured and their families.

I did not think I deserved to sit there and, in fact, was hoping someone who had been injured or a member of their family would come by and need a seat so I would have had an excuse to give mine up and move to the general seating area along the sides.

                                               
The building itself is to the left of this photo. The huge stage held the massed bands of the Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy, and Coast Guard as well as choral members of all. That screen above the stage was huge.

                                               
This is what it looked like when Secretary Rumsfeld was speaking.

                                               
I don't know about you, but if I were an Iraqi officer and I saw this soldier - even in this photo - I'd be searching the internet for what's Arabic for "Surrender?"

                                               
This is a photo of the President and First Lady as the opening prayer was being offered. Two things I want to bring to your attention:

1. Note that the First Lady has her hand looped through the President's arm. This is very typical. They are in constant physical contact with one another when they are together. It is very sweet.
2. That shoulder in the left foreground belongs to a Major who was seated in front of me. He was scarred on his face, neck, ears, and hands from the burns he suffered in the attacks.

                                               
The Pentagon was rebuilt in three weeks under a year. There was a story in the Washington Post the other day which had the officer in charge of the repair work saying he didn't want to set the bar as high has having everyone back in their offices by September 11, 2002 - because he didn't think it could be met.

The contractors and their crews demanded that be the goal.

They beat it.

                                               
The President and Secretary Rumsfeld moved to the side of the stage to watch as the flag which military people dropped over the edge of the building the day after the attack, was put in place again.

The children in the foreground led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance. I believe they represented local schools including those which were attended by children who were killed on the American Airlines plane which was crashed into the Pentagon.

                                               
This is the flag as it was dropped over the edge of the building. The wind was so strong that it literally blew it back up on the roof. They tried a second time and, again, the wind was too strong. But the point was made and the flag stayed in placed long enough for the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem.

Although it is not visible in this picture, in the window at the lower left-hand corner of the frame there was a sign taped to the inside which read: "Miriam, we miss you."

                                               
Here is a photo of the crowd to my left. The flags give you some indication of the wind. There were about 13,000 people in attendance.

                                               
The ceremony ended with these jets flying overhead in the "missing man" formation. In this photo there are two planes to the right of the lead plane, and only one to his left.

                                               
This photo was taken right after the President's speech from Ellis Island. The Lad had just arrived back in Washington from Shanksville, Pa.where he had managed that event for the President. The Mullings Director of Standards & Practices was home from her office. And the moon was still in the sky.