Steel recovered from the World Trade Center after September 11, 2001 is displayed in memory of 2,752 victims, including 343 New York City firefighters, 37 Port Authority police officers, and 23 New York City police officers. It also honors those who lost their lives during the four coordinated terrorist aircraft attacks on the United States of America, including 184 people killed when American Airlines Flight 77 struck the Pentagon and 40 people lost when passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93 sought to retake control of their aircraft in flight to save Washington D.C. from impending attack before it crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Five elements shape the memorial: limestone cornerstones marking the 208-foot footprint of one tower, ripples in the earth representing the impact of the fall and its continuing reverberations, a circle beneath the beam representing the globe, relationships, and the circle of life, stars created from steel inspired by the U.S. flag and representing the Twin Towers and the spirit of ingenuity, and a twisted beam symbolizing a shared journey, tragedy endured, and a spirit of faith, hope, freedom, and standing tall with America.
