Commending the Pentagon Memorial Fund.

Commending the Pentagon Memorial Fund.
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 19, 2026
Agreed to by the Senate, February 26, 2026
WHEREAS, the Pentagon Memorial Fund, a nonprofit organization that preserves the memory of Americans whose lives were lost during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, has led efforts to install a new Visitor Education Center at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial in Arlington; and
WHEREAS, the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial and the vision for the Visitor Education Center were born from the hearts and tireless efforts of the families of the victims, the survivors, and the first responders whose lives were forever changed on that day; and
WHEREAS, the Visitor Education Center will serve as a living testament to their resilience, transforming unspeakable tragedy into a mission of education and remembrance that honors their loved ones and their own lived experiences; and
WHEREAS, the Visitor Education Center is of critical importance to fulfilling the sacred promise to “Never Forget,” serving as a permanent venue where the lessons of bravery, sacrifice, and resilience are taught to future generations who have no lived memory of the attacks; and
WHEREAS, the successful advancement of this mission is a testament to the tireless work of the Pentagon Memorial Fund Board of Directors, led by Sean Connaughton, whose strategic vision and unwavering commitment have been the driving force behind the project's progress; and
WHEREAS, the daily operations and the profound emotional impact of the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial are sustained by the work of the Pentagon Memorial Fund's executive director, Joseph E. Kornhoff, and the selfless service of volunteer docents, who give generously of their time to provide tours, share history, and offer comfort to visitors from around the world; and
WHEREAS, the Commonwealth has a rich heritage of recognizing historical sites and protecting hallowed ground, and the Pentagon Memorial Fund's development of the Visitor Education Center ensures that the Pentagon remains a site of dignity, reflection, and profound educational value; and
WHEREAS, September 11, 2026, marks the 25th remembrance of the terrorist attacks that took the lives of 184 innocent individuals at the Pentagon and aboard American Airlines Flight 77, and the groundbreaking ceremony of the Visitor Education Center in summer 2026 will serve as a fitting tribute to their lives and legacies; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Pentagon Memorial Fund, its leadership, and its corps of volunteers for their work to establish the Visitor Education Center at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Pentagon Memorial Fund as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for the organization's important role in preserving the memory of those who perished during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.