Between the two memorial walls in the interior of the Pentagon, memorial books with photographs and personal information about each victim of the attack wait for visitors to browse through and glean a sense of sorrow or pride from the display. rez View More Images from this story Visit the Photo Place

A place to remember

Fredericksburg artisan leaves her mark on terrorism memorial inside the Pentagon.

By PAMELA GOULD
The Free Lance-Star

Date published: 5/25/2002

HEN SHE WAS
working a
string of 20-hour days last month, Shelly McMahan didn't have much time to think about the impact her work would have on herself or others.

But now that the Fredericksburg woman has finished the 4-foot by 8-foot black acrylic panels bearing the names of the 184 men, women and children killed when terrorists slammed a jetliner into the Pentagon Sept. 11, she's been able to enjoy a sense of satisfaction.

"I'm just really proud that I played a part in doing it," the 35-year-old graphic designer and former soldier said.

McMahan, who operates Smart Design in Woodbridge, was one of three contractors who created the "America's Heroes" memorial inside the Pentagon. Defense Department graphics director Kathy Brassell and design specialist JulieAnne Tabone came up with the design.

The memorial--a partially enclosed room 10 feet deep and 25 feet wide--was unveiled May 4 in a ceremony open only to family members of the victims. Glenn Flood, a Pentagon spokesman, said the families wanted a quiet, closed event rather than a public dedication.

McMahan's company--consisting of her brother and one other employee--not only made the two panels bearing the victims' names but essentially the entire display.

They created a replica of the "United in Memory" emblem unveiled in October to remember Pentagon victims, as well as two windows with transparent acrylic carvings of the Purple Heart and Defense of Freedom medals.

They also created three other panels--two that explain the medals and a central one that speaks of the Sept. 11 attacks and quotes the speeches of President Bush and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld at a one-month anniversary ceremony.

The interior memorial is located next to the Chaplain's Office and a prayer room on the third floor at the apex of corridors nine and 10. It was envisioned as a place Pentagon employees could visit to reflect on the events of Sept. 11--the day 125 coworkers were killed and scores of others injured.

For the public, an outdoor memorial is planned within view of the site where American Airlines Flight 77 smashed into the building. Dedication is tentatively set for the two-year anniversary of the attack.

A design competition is open to anyone. Details on the competition will be available next month on the Web at http://pentagonmemorial.nab.usace.army.mil.

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Date published: 5/25/2002