I was impressed by the great care taken to preserve the memorabilia layed at the base of the two trees and the ornaments hung on the branches.
Fresh flowers, 2-3 day old flowers that had been trimmed, plastic protectors on the paper pictures, letters, and flags. Money stapled and taped to the trunk of the tree, coins - lots of them - left untouched at the base of both trees. A bullet keychain dangling in the wind from a branch with a clear view of the hole in the Pentagon behind it.
Tourists coming and going to pay their respect. Locals, businessmen, kids praying on the hill facing the Pentagon.
Large orange cranes in the background demonstrating the healing that has begun. The bottom outter floor being raised closing the hole in the structure that is symbolic of the hole in America's heart.
It's funny - there was activity everywhere - the construction workers were working, visitors, tourists, and others paying their respect all around, a freeway immediately beside us - but I don't remember hearing any sound. I know we talked, I can see you saying something to me in my mind, but at the time, it was like slow motion. No real sound in real time.
Thank you for representing us, Freepers, with the memorial you prepared that those of us in D.C. were able to sign. Please post a picture of it and ping me to it? Thank you for showing up for us faithfully as you have been and I'm sure will continue to do.