A Long-Awaited Opening, Bringing Closure to Many

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A Memorial to Never Forget

The Pentagon Memorial, which honors the 184 people killed in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks at the Pentagon, is dedicated by President Bush.

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Soon he would return to work full time in the Pentagon, said Yates, a tall, powerful man whose mottled hands bear the scars of skin grafts. "I still get chills when I walk those halls," he said of the building.

There were many other ceremonial acts of tribute during the dedication. Eight rescue workers who were among the first responders to the attack stood at somber attention on the Pentagon roof as a bugler played taps. Far below, a bagpiper answered the musical elegy with the wail of "Amazing Grace." As he played, he walked among the rows of benches, each veiled by a blue cloth decorated with a small American flag.

Bush's remarks came near the end of the ceremony.

"For all our citizens, this memorial will be a reminder of the resilience of our spirit," he said during an eight-minute speech. "For future generations, this memorial will be a place of learning. The day will come when most Americans have no memory of Sept. 11. When they visit this memorial, they will learn the 21st century began with a great struggle between the forces of freedom and the forces of terror."

Relatives of the victims, who spearheaded the effort to design and build the memorial, said they hope its message would reach the rest of the nation and bring hope to the country's darkest observance.

"This is something to be uplifted about, a place people can find peace and healing," said James Laychak, president of the Pentagon Memorial Fund, whose younger brother David was killed in the Pentagon.

"We've turned a corner on 9/11, and we can say, 'Look what happens when we focus on a common goal and can do something good.' "

Staff writer Theresa Vargas contributed to this report.