The Park Police aircraft were over the burning Pentagon just four minutes after the initial explosion.

Air traffic control warned the Eagle crews of an additional hijacked aircraft inbound for Washington. Air traffic controllers then directed Eagle 1 to assume control of the air space over the Pentagon after heavy smoke from the crash site forced them to abandon their nearby tower.

Eagle 1 then directed Eagle 2 to a safe landing zone to assist with the injured. Eagle 1 immediately began to down-link live video images to command posts in Washington, D.C. and in Virginia.

...and for the defense of the city of Washington.

Eagle 2 landed and crew members assisted Arlington County Fire Department and military medical personnel with loading the most seriously injured patients on board. These Pentagon employees were flown to the MedStar Unit of the Washington Hospital Center.

At the request of the Arlington County Fire Department, Eagle 1 flew a Fire Chief above the burning Pentagon to direct the rescue efforts.

Eagle 1 then directed the D.C. Police helicopter to assume coordination of arriving aircraft, so Eagle 1 would be available for medevac use.

Helicopters from Fairfax County Police, Inova Fairfax Hospital and MedStar arrived on the scene.

The MedStar 1 helicopter transported an additional burn patient to the Washington Hospital Center.

Aircraft were again advised by the Washington Approach Control Center of a hijacked aircraft minutes away and headed for Washington.

For the next 14 days U.S. Park Police aircraft flew around-the-clock security patrols, protecting the White House, the United States Capitol, the Pentagon, the monuments and the memorials.

The roadways, waterways, bridges and airfields of the Washington metropolitan area were checked for any sign of threat or sabotage.

To this day, United States Park Police aircraft remain on alert, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, to protect the citizens, visitors, and our nation's capitol.