“We will never forget.”
Do you remember, back 23 years ago (Sept. 11, 2001), when the planes hit American assets?
Maj. Gen. Kent Hillhouse, U.S. Army (Ret.), sure does.
He shared his recollections at the Flame of Liberty Memorial in Los Gatos during the morning service, on this year’s Sept. 11.
Maj. Gen. Hillhouse’s final assignment with the military was in the G1 section of the Pentagon. He retired on Sept. 3, 2001, just days before 9/11.
Hillhouse was in San Jose that day.
A colleague, who’d been promoted to the rank of lieutenant general had taken over his responsibilities and was in a staff meeting that morning.
American Airlines 77 came right through the office, killing Hillhouse’s replacement.
Hillhouse’s personal effects from his office were still at the Pentagon when the attack occurred.
One of these items was a book written by Hillhouse’s father about their family.
Eventually, the book was uncovered in the rubble and shipped west to California. When Hillhouse received it, it still smelled of jet fuel.
Hillhouse gave the book back to his parents to hold. They kept it in the garage, given the strong odor.
When they died, Kent took ownership of the book again.
Sixty-four souls onboard Flight 77 instantly lost their lives on Sept. 11.
What had been an ordinary morning at the Pentagon, turned into a scene of absolute horror, as 125 lives there were gone within minutes.
The five-sided architectural marvel was one of the primary targets of a well-orchestrated attack.
4 Commercial Aircraft Hijacked
This third of four hijacked commercial airplanes was part of the worst terrorist attack ever on American soil.
The Twin Towers were collapsing, and soon the aircraft that may have been destined to hit the White House would crash into the Pennsylvanian countryside.
Mark Bingham and Todd M. Beamer, men from this area, had rushed the hijackers who’d stormed the cockpit of United Airlines Flight #93.
It resulted in an early crash, killing all onboard.
Americans Know How to Rise
At the morning’s somber and thoughtful tribute ceremony featured opening notes with bagpiping from Lettie Smith, the Posting of Colors by the Santa Clara County Fire Department Honor Guard, Angela Borricua Trirado singing our national anthem, and contributions from Clyde Horn, Mayor Mary Badame, Hillhouse, the American Legion, Guy Clark, Laura Shea and Lt. Col. Walker Pearce-Percy.
Then, “doves of peace” were released, with Trirado asking us to join in singing “God Bless America.”
Here on the Civic Center lawn, I’m struck by the inscription below the 1899 fire bell:
“SOME RUN TOWARD DANGER WHEN MOST RUN AWAY.”
This memorial was financed through donations and community support led by the Veterans Memorial & Support Foundation and with the support of generous community members like Lisa and Rick Provenzano.
For more information visit: HonorAVet.org
Photos by Dinah Cotton
*This article has been updated to reflect that Maj. Gen. Kent Hillhouse (Ret.) was in San Jose on Sept. 11, 2001. Due to a reporting error, the original article indicated he was in the Pentagon building during the attacks. We regret the error.
Great coverage. Thank you.