Jacksonville Mom Attending 9-11 Memorial Dedication Ceremony

An East Alabama woman is in Virginia today for the dedication of the new 9-11 memorial at the Pentagon.  Pearl Williams’ son was one of the almost 3,000 people who died that day.

The Department of Defense dedicated that memorial at exactly 9:43 Thursday local time. That’s the exact moment an American Airlines plane crashed into the Pentagon in 2001. Thousands of victims’ family members plan to be there for the somber occasion. 

Pearl Williams visits a memorial at Jacksonville Cemetery often. It’s dedicated to her son, Major Dwayne Williams who was killed when Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon seven years ago. Today she is back at the Pentagon for a special ceremony to dedicate a memorial there. Williams said, “This is the first time I have visited the Pentagon since the tragedy. I’m very excited because our loved ones are finally being remembered.” 
The memorial will remember the 184 victims who were killed in the Pentagon.  It sits right at the spot where the American Airlines flight plowed into the west wall of the building.  According to Williams, “We have a place we can go to remember them to reflect on their deaths.”
Williams said she’s also excited to meet other victims’ families who can relate to her tragic experience.  “It’s going to be a healing experience. I think I’m at the point now where I can accept what happened,” Williams said.

Williams has been busy over the past seven years. She’s established the Major Dwayne Williams scholarship fund at Jacksonville State University, and organized a golf tournament to raise money for the fund. She said that has helped her heal.