Remembering, Honoring, Never Forgetting
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Remembering, Honoring, Never Forgetting

On Sept. 11, 2001, at least three Potomac residents died when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon.

Todd Reuben, 40, was a passenger on American Airlines Flight 77, the hijacked plane that crashed into the west side of the Pentagon on the morning of Sept. 11. Reuben, an attorney and avid Washington Redskins and Washington Capitals fan, was the devoted father of twin sons Jeffrey and Jason and is survived by his sons and his wife Vivian.

"He was an absolutely excellent lawyer but put his family and friends before law, which is the way it should be," said Stef Tucker, the week after Reuben died.

GERALD "GEEP" FISHER, 57, a consultant, and Ernest W. Willcher, 62, were both in the Pentagon when the hijacked plane crashed into it.

"Geep collected friends," said Fisher's friend and colleague Jack Mayer at a service to celebrate his life one week after the attacks.

"There wasn't one person he met he didn't care about," said his son Jonathan Fisher.

"All people were so important to him," said his daughter Christine Fisher.

Fisher is also survived by his wife Christine Fisher.

Willcher is survived by his wife Shirley Nagrodzki Willcher and sons Benjamin and Joel — "his pride and joy," said Tom Taylor during his address at Willcher's memorial service on Sept. 17, 2002. "He devoted his entire life to selfless service to two families — the Army family and his personal family," said Taylor.

Many other Potomac families lost family members and friends in the attacks of Sept. 11, including the collapse of the World Trade Center towers in New York.

On Sept. 11, 2002, ceremonies of remembrance will be held throughout Potomac and Montgomery County. Listed below is a just a partial sampling of events, services and ceremonies the community can attend.