Members of the Association of the U.S. Army’s headquarters staff, led by retired Gen. Bob Brown, the association’s executive vice president, marked the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks by laying a wreath at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial in Virginia.

“The Association of the U.S. Army is honored to have the opportunity to recognize our fallen heroes on the 20th anniversary of 9/11,” said Brown, who will become AUSA’s president and CEO on Oct. 1.

The ceremony Sept. 8 was part of the “Wreaths of Remembrance” events at the Pentagon Memorial, which is currently closed to the public. All wreaths will remain on display until Sept. 11.

“We were proud to have been joined by two of our AUSA teammates who were in the Pentagon during the attack—retired Col. John Davies and Suzanne McCollum,” Brown said.

Davies, AUSA’s membership director, was the deputy director of military personnel management in the Army personnel directorate in 2001. McCollum, who is AUSA’s registrar, at the time worked in the Pentagon as an Army civilian.

Also representing AUSA was retired Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel Dailey, the association’s vice president of NCO and Soldier Programs.

At 9:37 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the west side of the Pentagon, shortly after two hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York. United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, at 10:03 a.m. after passengers tried to retake the plane.

Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the attacks launched by al-Qaida, the militant group founded by Osama bin Laden, and they led to the longest war in American history.

“The attacks on September 11, 2001, reminded us of the true strength of our Nation and our military,” Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville said in an August message to the force. “The sacrifices you’ve made, have and will be a lasting legacy of honor.”

The Pentagon Memorial, which opened to the public on Sept. 11, 2008, consists of a park with 184 benches—one for each person killed in the Pentagon attack.

“We remain committed to honoring the fallen and never forgetting the sacrifices made for our freedom,” Brown said.