ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY

Twenty years ago, terrorists in hijacked airliners changed America—and the military—forever.

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, two hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City. Shortly afterward, at 9:37 a.m., American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the west side of the Pentagon, shearing through three of the building’s five rings.

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.

Four former secretaries of defense have enlisted in an effort to build a Pentagon visitors’ center dedicated to remembering the death and destruction on 9/11.