Remembering 9/11: University Park Sept. 11 Memorial

University Park lost five members of its community on Sept. 11, 2001.

Three adults and two children died when American Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon.

A family in University Park — Charles S. Falkenberg, 45, his wife, Leslie A. Whittington, 45, and their two children, Zoe Falkenberg, 8, and Dana Falkenberg, 3, were killed when their flight hit the Pentagon.

Whittington, a professor at the University of Maryland and Georgetown University, and her family were headed to Australia for her sabbatical. Zoe was a student at University Park Elementary School.

The fifth resident, Sheila M.S. Hein, 51, was killed while working at an internship at the Pentagon when the plane hit.

The town built a reflection garden and marked it with this plaque as a memorial to them in 2005. It was designed by town resident Tom Ascraft, of Tuckerman Street.

It is located in the town’s park and is often decorated with American flags. Each year, the town gathers on 9/11 to remember the residents lost. This year they will gather at 2 p.m.

This photo was created as part of a larger project in coordination with Action America to document how the country has been affected by the events of Sept. 11, 2001.

See how you can become an Actionist and turn the events of 9/11 into positive action at www.ActionAmerica.com and look for more local coverage of the 10th anniversary of 9/11 on Patch.

How has 9/11 affected you in the last 10 years? Please share your post-9/11 remembrances with us in the comments section below.