Skip to main content
Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Related Content
Topic
  • September 11--Pentagon
  • Places--Pentagon
  • Monuments & Memorials
  • September 11--Terrorist Attacks
Document Type
  • Artifact
Wars & Conflicts
File Formats
  • Image (gif, jpg, tiff)
Location of Archival Materials
  • NHHC

9/11 Pentagon Memorial Quilt

Handmade quilt presented to the Pentagon to honor the memory of the people whose lives were lost during the September 11, 2001 attack on the Pentagon.


9/11 Pentagon memorial quilt. The quilt consists of various red, white, and blue pieces of cotton fabric sewn together with yellow stars on blue background spread throughout the pattern. The names of those who perished during the Pentagon attack ...

Title: Quilt, Memorial, September 11, 2001, Pentagon Terrorist Attack
Accession #: NHHC 2001-123-1
Circa: 2001
Size: 78 x 97"
Medium: Fabric
Location: Headquarters Artifact Collection, Naval History and Heritage Command

This coverlet quilt was handmade by Dianna Braden Lumpkin who designed and hand-quilted it using squares created by the English Circle Students of the Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Arlington, Virginia to honor the memory of the people whose lives were lost at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. It was presented to the Pentagon on May 30, 2002.


Close-up of 9/11 Pentagon memorial quilt. Quilt consts of red, white, and blue quilting blocks. Names of those who died handwritten on white blocks. Interspersed with blue blocks with gold stars.

The quilt consists of various red, white, and blue pieces of cotton fabric sewn together with yellow stars on blue background spread throughout the pattern. The names of those who perished during the Pentagon attack are hand-written in black ink on the white squares. The edges of the quilt have quotes from President George W. Bush’s speech that he made at the National Cathedral on September 14, 2001. Each side has a quote, which reads, “We will read all these names. We will linger over them, and learn their stories and many Americans weep… / These are the names of the men and women who began their day at a desk or in an airport, busy with life… / These are the names of the men and women who wore the uniform of the United States and died at their posts… / Grief and tragedy and hatred are only for a time… Goodness, remembrance and love have no end.”


Handwritten label in black ink on reverse of quilt, "The blocks in this quilt were made bu the Eighth Grade Students of Thomas Jefferson Middle School Arlingotn, Virginia. It was designed and hand quilted by Dianne Braden Lumpkin. Presented to Th...

In 2010, Mrs. Joyce Rumsfeld, the sponsor of the soon to be commissioned USS Arlington (LPD-24) requested the Jefferson Middle School 9/11 quilt be transferred to the US Navy and loaned to this ship. It was transferred to the US Navy in June 2011 and presented to the ship by Mrs. Rumsfeld at the ship’s ceremonial commissioning on 6 April 2013.

Published: Thu Jul 15 11:25:56 EDT 2021