Comdr. Patrick Dunn, like all members of the U.S. armed forces, carried a military ID. This card was heavily burned in the fire that followed the crash of the hijacked airliner.
This clear, lily-stem champagne glass was part of the collection of dinnerware used in the "Windows on the World" restaurant located on the 107th floor, Tower 1 of the World Trade Center. The glass survived because the owner of the restaurant had taken the restaurant's place settings home for a private function.
On September 11, 2001, the World Trade Center's Twin Towers in New York City collapsed after being struck by hijacked commercial airplanes in a terrorist attack. Witnessing the unfolding tragedy on television, Dennis Quinn, of the Local 1 ironworker’s union in Chicago, Illinois, recognized his specialized skills in erecting and demolishing steel structures could be vital to the rescue and recovery efforts.
Six days after the attacks, on September 17, Quinn drove from Chicago to New York City with four colleagues, including his younger brother, Leo. For the next six weeks, working the 4 PM to midnight shift, seven days a week, Quinn and his team dedicated themselves to untangling and removing the immense debris pile at Ground Zero.
The experiences of ironworkers like Quinn became an essential part of the historical record collected by curators documenting the September 11 attacks. Initially, there was hope of finding survivors, but as time passed and the likelihood of rescue diminished, the focus shifted entirely to debris removal. Ironworkers frequently paused their work when potential evidence for the post-attack investigation was discovered, halting all operations until investigators could examine the findings.
Dennis Quinn recalled that first responders, such as fire rescue and police, expressed gratitude for the ironworkers' presence. He described the massive debris pile, simply as the "Pile," as resembling a warzone, with hazardous conditions and widespread destruction. The contributions of ironworkers were crucial to making the area safer and more navigable for all those involved in the recovery operation.
The U.S. military has a long tradition of creating special coins and medallions to recognize special service, give away to visiting dignitaries, or honor other contributions. For the October 11, 2001, memorial event at the Pentagon, the Secretary of Defense commissioned C. Forbes, Inc., to design and produce these commemorative medallions and pins to honor those lost and injured in the September 11 attack on the Pentagon.
Description: This material from Officer Isaac Ho‘opi‘i includes his uniform (shirt with insignia, trousers, boots, and name tag), his shield, his dog Vito’s collar and shield, a K-9 patch, and a poster of Vito.
Context: Hearing a report on his patrol-car radio of the terrorists’ attack on the Pentagon, Isaac Ho‘opi‘i (a native of Hawaii) rushed to the destroyed portion of the building. He quickly realized that many people were trapped inside and disoriented by the thick smoke. After carrying a number of people to safety, he ventured as far as he dared go into the smoke-filled building, calling out in his booming deep voice: “Come towards my voice.” Ho‘opi‘i is credited with saving many lives.
This card was used to gain access to the Navy Command Center on the first floor of the D ring in the Pentagon. The Command Center was staffed 24 hours a day by personnel who monitored U.S. naval units around the world and watched worldwide news broadcasts.