Pentagon Prepares 9/11 Visitor Education Center to Uphold Promise to ‘Never Forget’

Twenty-five years after the commitment to “Never Forget” the 9/11 attacks, this pledge now depends heavily on education for over 100 million Americans who lack firsthand memories of the event. The Pentagon is set to break ground on a new Visitor Education Center, addressing the absence of a dedicated museum or education center at the site of one of the 9/11 attacks.

This new center aims to bridge the educational gap that has widened with time, helping those who did not experience the attacks grasp both their historical significance and ongoing impact. Joseph Kornhoff, executive director of the Pentagon Memorial Fund, highlighted that nearly a third of Americans were not alive or do not recall the attacks, missing the “personal connection” felt by those who witnessed the events.

The goal is to provide visitors with an educational experience that fosters an understanding of the gravity of that day.

The National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York, situated nearly 230 miles north of the Pentagon, faces similar generational challenges. Beth Hillman, president and CEO of the museum, noted the increasing importance of the vow to “Never Forget” as the number of Americans with firsthand memories dwindles.

During a press preview on August 31, Hillman commented on how many from her generation can remember their exact location on that devastating day, yet about 100 million Americans were either unborn or too young to remember September 11, 2001.

At the same event, Noah Rauch, the museum’s senior vice president for education and public programs, shared his observations about the shift from memory to history. This shift represents a modern challenge, as younger Americans learn about an event they did not experience, amidst the spread of online conspiracy theories and false narratives.

Kornhoff emphasized the essential role of factual education, especially concerning conspiracy theories about the attack on the Pentagon and narratives suggesting that America “deserved 9/11.”

It is crucial to educate young children about the facts surrounding the attacks, rather than entertain false ideas.

The Pentagon center will feature ten exhibits focusing on human stories from the attacks, including details about the 184 victims at the Pentagon and aboard American Airlines Flight 77. It will also highlight the bravery of first responders and the efforts of military and civilian personnel who assisted the injured.

Furthermore, a renewed emphasis on 9/11 education is visible on Capitol Hill. Representatives Elise Stefanik and Josh Gottheimer introduced bipartisan legislation to examine 9/11 education in schools and pinpoint gaps in instruction.

Kornhoff praised this initiative, noting that the legislation signifies a growing acknowledgment of the necessity to educate newer generations with no direct connections to the attacks.

The Pentagon 9/11 Memorial Visitor Education Center is slated to open by the end of 2029, adjacent to the existing Pentagon 9/11 Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. This project received federal funding of $12 million in the current year, along with $1 million from Virginia and additional private donations.

Once completed, the center will feature interactive exhibits, historical artifacts, and personal accounts from survivors and victims’ families. It will also offer visitors further context about the attack and its ramifications.