Chaplain (Col) Henry Haynes, then a Lt Col, was working in the Pentagon the day it was struck by an airliner on 11 September 2001.  He recalls the experience, his actions to tend the needy, and the impact of his faith:

Haynes and his fellow chaplains…set up an operations center outside the building to attend to victims, rescue workers and others in need.  “It was just a long, long day of trying to minister to and…take care of people who were hurting,” Haynes said.

In the days that followed, Haynes was busy ministering to survivors and conducting prayer services…

“There was one fellow — we parked side by side every morning when we drove in to the Pentagon. And the reason I remember him so well was because he always read his Bible,” Haynes said. “I would get in at about 6 a.m. each morning … and he would be sitting there reading his Bible every morning. It really just sort of impressed me. The fact that he was killed — it was just really emotional, because I knew he was a very good person and very spiritual. But it was good to be able — when the parents asked me, ‘Did you know my son?’ — to say, ‘Yes, I knew your son. We frequently spoke.’ I told them that he read his Bible every morning and they liked that.”

Haynes said he feels privileged having been at the Pentagon during 9/11, being able to serve those in need of spiritual support. He said that although it was a trying and tiring time, his faith helped him meet the demands.

“I believe that God gives you strength. And I believe in the power of prayer. There was a lot of prayer going on,” he said. “A lot of people just wanted to hear some positive words. I felt like that was my duty. I had to do that. I had to be strong for my fellow comrades and employees in the building. I believe that God prepares us for stuff, and I believe that God had me there for a reason.”

God bless our Chaplains for their service.  They truly go wherever they are needed.