I was a college student, but living at home. My mom woke me up and said, "You might want to see this." I could tell from her voice that it was important. I got downstairs and listened to the news reports, still groggy from sleep, wondering how a pilot could have made such a huge error. Then the second plane hit and I knew... it wasn't an error, a mistake, or an accident. My parents were separated at the time and my dad, a career military officer, was in town to see us. (He was stationed in DC at the time.) He called and asked me, my mom, and my older sister to meet him for breakfast so we could be together and talk about it. We all drove separately since I had class and my sister had work, but listened to the radio on the way there. It was during that ride that the plane hit the Pentagon, a building where my father had worked twice in the past, and still had meetings on a regular basis. I knew he had many friends and coworkers and acquaintances still there. My sister parked next to me at the restaurant, and we looked at each other. I said, "I'll tell him." And I went inside and told my dad. His reaction still brings tears to my eyes. And then his blackberry lit up. For the next hour he was answering phone calls and emails before telling us, "I have to leave and go straight back to Washington." I proceeded to school at Old Dominion University, which is practically attached to the Norfolk Naval Station (I believe it's the largest naval installation in the nation, if not the world). All the while the local news reporters were speculating that the base would be the next target. Needless to say there was no teaching that day in my classes. The professors were pretty supportive and offered to let us have discussions about the day's events, or just to leave and be with our families. In the following days I was among the millions who attached flags to their cars, houses, and everything else. I still have the little flag that was attached to my car antenna for 6 months. Every now and then I see it among my belongings, and I'm taken back to that feeling of pride and unity that we all shared. So... that's where I was.

My dad did know people who died that day, and witnessed first-hand the results of the destruction to the Pentagon. I'm not sure what people doubt about the events that occurred there, but I assure you that your doubt is unfounded.

On another note, please allow this thread to remain a memorial to that day, and not a soapbox for your personal political agendas.