An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

9/11 Pentagon stone winds through Robins

  • Published
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  A small piece of stone with a significant place in history made its way through Robins Air Force Base Sept 9 en route to a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy.

The Robins Air Force Base Fire Department delivered the Pentagon stone from Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command to the museum for the ceremony.  In a show of respect, base employees lined the streets as the stone was escorted to the museum by a procession of fire trucks, police cruisers and motorcycle riders.

The 9/11 Pentagon stone, acquired by Air Force Reserve Command history office, is an artifact from the West Wall of the Pentagon that was hit by a hijacked airliner on 9/11. 

Made of limestone, the 200-pound stone is chipped and charred from the impact of the airplane that struck the Pentagon. The coordinated attack that day killed 184 people at the Pentagon, another 2,749 at the World Trade Center and 40 aboard Flight 93 that crashed in Shanksville, Pa. Among the 9/11 fatalities was Air Force Reserve Maj. LeRoy Homer, first officer on Flight 93.

The stone, approximately 40 inches long, 8 inches wide and six inches deep, represents the sacrifices of thousands of American men and women who gave their lives on 9/11. This stone also recognizes the men and women who serve in the U.S. military in defense of freedom.

AFRC was recently designated a "historical holding" by the U.S. Air Force National Museum of Aviation. After learning that Pentagon stones were available to qualifying organizations, AFRC historical services directorate applied for and received the stone from the Pentagon Renovation Program.

After the event, the stone will be returned to AFRC headquarters where it will be part of the command's Heritage Hall collection.