Patriot Day

Today marks the 24th anniversary of September 11, 2001. It is a day that remains etched in the memories of many, myself included. On that seemingly ordinary Tuesday morning in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area, the weather was clear with beautiful blue skies and pleasant temperatures. At the time, I was employed by the Virginia Department of Transportation, conducting my routine roadway inspections on the region's multiple interstates.

At approximately 8:50 a.m., news reports began to emerge that an aircraft had collided with the North Tower of the World Trade Center, although the information was initially unclear and fragmented. At the time, there was little understanding of the magnitude of the event; historically, smaller aircraft had occasionally struck tall buildings, and the Twin Towers were engineered to endure impacts from large commercial airplanes. The assumption was that the damage would be minimal.

I was quickly brought back to reality when the news reported that a second plane had crashed into the South Tower at 9:03 a.m. Immediately, it became evident to America that we were under attack. Although the identity of the perpetrators, their motives, and the specifics were unknown, it was clear that our world would be irrevocably changed.

At 9:37 a.m., American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon. The Pentagon, a symbol of military strength and the central command for the U.S. Armed Forces, had been targeted. By 10:00 a.m., I received directives to evacuate all employees and contractors from the interstates and prepare to assist at the Pentagon. 

I promptly instructed my team to leave the interstates and convene at our headquarters. We anticipated being deployed to support operations at the Pentagon. Utilizing a pre-established road closure system, initially designed for the Marine Corps Marathon, we secured all primary and secondary access routes to the Pentagon and its vicinity.

Upon my arrival at the Pentagon later that day, the presence of military personnel was extensive, with fire crews actively engaged in extinguishing fires from deep within the structure. My responsibilities included establishing a secure perimeter and supporting any requests from the Command Center. While local VDOT personnel directly supported operations at the Pentagon, additional statewide resources were mobilized for long-term assistance and support.

For over a month, my team collaborated in a multi-agency response, alongside the military, FBI, CIA, and local and state emergency personnel. Our objective was to restore a semblance of normalcy to the Pentagon and its staff, while also maintaining a secure environment. It was a collective effort, driven by a shared sense of shock, disbelief, and patriotism.

September 11, 2001, was to us what Pearl Harbor was to the Greatest Generation; our lives were irrevocably altered by this senseless act of terror. May we never forget!

Attached are articles detailing VDOT's response and the events of that tragic day.

Bulletin: AVDOT Employee Newspaper - Page 1 - VDOT Bulletin - VDOT Library Digital Collections