Renee was able to get us two tickets to attend the
Pentagon Memorial Dedication today at the Pentagon. It was an incredible event and the Memorial is amazing. So well thought out and designed I can't wait to see it. The actual Memorial is only open to Special Guests today, but will open to the public at 7pm this evening for the first time. For now I have posted a bunch of pictures from the dedication ceremony.
We arrived at the Pentagon at 5:55am. They were expecting over 15,000 people to attend the dedication and we wanted to make sure that we got good seats. Just outside of the seating area there was a group of almost 3000 American Flags to pay tribute to all of the victims of the Sept 11th attacks. In the back ground you can see the Air Force Memorial. The Spire reaching off to the right of the picture shows the path that American Airlines Flight 77 took as it hit the Pentagon.
Here is the Dedication's Program with the stage and Pentagon in the background. Just beyond the stage is the Memorial.
The ceremony started with a wonderful concert with musical performances by selected groups from each of the Armed Services.
During the ceremony the names of the 184 victims were read for the first time at the Pentagon. As each name was read a bell was rang. Take note of the airplane in the background of this picture. Every few minutes a plane flew by on it's final approach to Regan International Airport in Arlington, VA. This is the normal flight path of these planes.
Here you can see the first American Flag to fly over the Pentagon Memorial. Today they will be flying the Flag at half staff as you can see in the image below.
The event was well attended by many of the leaders of the US Armed Forces. Speeches were given by Former Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense Gates, The Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mullen, and President Bush.
Mr. Rumsfeld and President Bush were warmly welcomed by the audience.
The President of the United States of America.
Look at the video on the projector. It shows the side of the Pentagon that was hit by the airplane. It was out of view from the seating area as they placed the Memorial directly in front of that section of the Pentagon.
Here you can see the Speakers right as they unveiled the Memorial. The blue cloths were covering each of the 184 benches which now memorialize the victims of the Sept 11th attack on the Pentagon.
Another view of the 3000 flags.
Each flag was dedicated to a victim of the Sept 11th attacks.
It was an amazing dedication and I feel honored to be able to attend this event. It's really hard to believe its been seven years. I can still vividly remember being awaken by a phone call from my mom during my Junior Year of college at UD in my Ray Street Dorm room telling me to turn on my tv. Sept 11th showed me that the greatest thing about the USA is the spirit of her people, of which our flag displays so well.
Renee was able to get us two tickets to attend the Pentagon Memorial Dedication today at the Pentagon. It was an incredible event and the Memorial is amazing. So well thought out and designed I can't wait to see it. The actual Memorial is only open to Special Guests today, but will open to the public at 7pm this evening for the first time. For now I have posted a bunch of pictures from the dedication ceremony.
Here is the Dedication's Program with the stage and Pentagon in the background. Just beyond the stage is the Memorial. 
The ceremony started with a wonderful concert with musical performances by selected groups from each of the Armed Services.
During the ceremony the names of the 184 victims were read for the first time at the Pentagon. As each name was read a bell was rang. Take note of the airplane in the background of this picture. Every few minutes a plane flew by on it's final approach to Regan International Airport in Arlington, VA. This is the normal flight path of these planes.
Here you can see the first American Flag to fly over the Pentagon Memorial. Today they will be flying the Flag at half staff as you can see in the image below.
The event was well attended by many of the leaders of the US Armed Forces. Speeches were given by Former Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense Gates, The Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mullen, and President Bush.
Mr. Rumsfeld and President Bush were warmly welcomed by the audience.
The President of the United States of America.
Look at the video on the projector. It shows the side of the Pentagon that was hit by the airplane. It was out of view from the seating area as they placed the Memorial directly in front of that section of the Pentagon.
Here you can see the Speakers right as they unveiled the Memorial. The blue cloths were covering each of the 184 benches which now memorialize the victims of the Sept 11th attack on the Pentagon.
Another view of the 3000 flags.
Each flag was dedicated to a victim of the Sept 11th attacks.
It was an amazing dedication and I feel honored to be able to attend this event. It's really hard to believe its been seven years. I can still vividly remember being awaken by a phone call from my mom during my Junior Year of college at UD in my Ray Street Dorm room telling me to turn on my tv. Sept 11th showed me that the greatest thing about the USA is the spirit of her people, of which our flag displays so well.
Here is a quick slideshow from another wedding I shot at the Sheraton of Columbia, MD. It was another fabulous day. This time the happy couple took advantage of the beautiful weather and had their ceremony on the outdoor patio of the Sheraton that overlooks the lake.
Enjoy the Show.
Here are a few pics from a wedding I did back in June with Zack of David Cearfoss Photography. It was a Christmas in June themed wedding that was done very well. We met the couple at The John S. McDaniel House Bed and Breakfast as the bride was just finishing getting ready and waiting for the rest of the wedding party to arrive.
The McDaniel house was fantastic. We took a few shots of the wedding party and then headed to the Easton Church for the Brethren for the ceremony.
Isn't this place incredible!!! Below you can see Zack working hard to get that killer shot.
It was a great day and I wish the happy couple all the best.
They have a pretty massive statue immortalizing Brigham Young, Adam Smith's successor as Leader of the LDS (Mormon) Church.
The LDS church has a pretty impressive spread around Temple Square. Here is the waterfall at the front of the Convention Center.
Inside the square there are a ton of really cool buildings. In this picture you can see the Temple, which is closed to visitors.
The following pictures are of the Assembly Hall in Temple Square.
The stone and mortar on the Assembly Hall was pretty cool. In most brick buildings they smooth the mortar down, but here they went the extra mile and exposed it.
Brigham Young is a pretty popular guy. He also has a park named in his honor.
This is the Head Quarters of the LDS Church. I love the long, tall lines running up the entire building.
As I was leaving the Square I saw this awesome old house.
Here is a view of the Great Salt Lake and Antelope Island from I-80. Yes, the white stuff is salt.
As you drive west from Salt Lake you travel through a number of mountain ranges and valleys.
The mountains are definitely more exciting than the valleys.
I really love the wide open spaces and views out west.
