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American Morning

Poignant Day Today at Pentagon

Aired June 11, 2002 - 07:43   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: It will be a poignant day today at the Pentagon. The final stone is to be placed in the facade of that building, so badly damaged in the attacks of last September. We all remember the scene nine months ago today. Behind the stone, a dedication box containing several items commemorating that fateful afternoon and that morning in September.

Jamie McIntyre, senior Pentagon correspondent, back with us live today outside the building.

Jamie, good morning.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.

It is nine months to the day since the events of September 11, and the construction crews here have completed the outer facade. The last piece of limestone will be put in place today.

Now, most of this limestone was taken from the same Indiana quarry for the original 1941 facade, but one piece is different, a ceremonial stone that is still burned and blackened from the explosion and fire of September 11. Behind it, in a couple of hours, will be placed a dedication capsule, which contains memorabilia honoring the people who died here, the 184 victims.

It includes coins from the Secretary of Defense and joint chief's chairman, a copy of the president's address to the nation, a small plaque that has all of the victims' names on it, as well as patches from some of the police and firefighters that have the slogan, "let's roll," which is part of the -- which is really the motto of the construction crew here, and also pictures sent by schoolchildren to the Pentagon. Thousands of those were sent, and a couple of them have been selected as representative.

With me now is Lee Evey, who is the construction -- who is the renovation program manager. Lee, you have completed the facade. How long before people will actually be able to occupy this part of the Pentagon again?

LEE EVEY, PROJECT MANAGER, PENTAGON RENOVATION: Well, Jamie, we intend to have people sitting at their desks on the E-ring where the aircraft entered this building on September 11, 2001, performing their missions on September 11, 2002. So we'll have people in this E-ring area right behind us at that point.

MCINTYRE: Are you on schedule?

EVEY: Absolutely. We are not only on schedule, we are ahead of schedule right now.

MCINTYRE: And how long before the entire Pentagon is back to the way it should be?

EVEY: Well, the entire Pentagon renovation is a program that's going to take ten years. That will take us out to 2010. But we'll be moving people back into what we call the Phoenix Project, the portion of the building that was demolished and rebuilt. We are moving them back in by September 11, and we'll have everyone moved in within a few months after that.

MCINTYRE: What's the esprit de corps been like for these workers who are on this project?

EVEY: It's unbelievable. I can guarantee you, you have never worked on a project like this one. The people here are totally dedicated to making sure that this project gets done on cost, on schedule, and built so it will last for the next 50 years.

MCINTYRE: Thank you, Lee Evey.

It will be a lot of work today. They'll have their work cut out for them. It's going to be in the 90s here in Washington, and I am told that inside the building, the temperatures on a day like this get in excess of 100 degrees, up near 110. So they are going to be earning their money today, as they continue to put this building back together and show a brave front -- Bill.

HEMMER: Jamie, thank you. Jamie McIntyre outside the Pentagon this morning.

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