Constitutional Law

Remembering back a few years

September 11, 2002. First anniversary. I'm in the DC area for a meeting, at the Key Bridge Marriott. It faces the Potomac, right where the river bends from generally north to generally northwest. Maybe a couple of miles north of National Airport and the Pentagon. Flight paths leaving National go right up the Potomac.

I'm walking across the hotel parking lot when I hear jet engines coming up the river. OK, a takeoff from National. Then I realize they're louder and coming on faster than any civilian jet should. September 11, uh, oh. Then four F-16s come roaring up the Potomac at low altitude, turn with the river's bend, and climb away into the distance. Another hijack?

I look at the hotel and lots of windows have faces in them, staring out.

It turned out the Pentagon had a memorial service capped by a flyover, which hadn't been heavily publicized...

Full post as published by Of Arms and the Law on September 11, 2009 (boomark / email).