CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. (WHP) — A Cumberland County man who volunteered with the Salvation Army during the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, said the experience is something he will carry with him for the rest of his life.
That year, Melvin Eichelberger lived across the street from the Salvation Army in Harrisburg and would sometimes help out. Then, he said, he got a call that changed everything.
“The commander got ahold and said, ‘hey, the Pentagon got hit.’ We were ordered to go to the Pentagon,” Eichelberger said.
Eichelberger said he pushed past his initial fears and arrived at a chaotic scene.
“You’re right there at the building and seeing smoke coming out, and everybody that was there, they were just going all directions,” he said.
Eichelberger said he helped first responders and others at the scene.
“I was on the canteen helping them out with hot dogs and food, drinks to the fire company, ambulance people, the military,” he said.
Eichelberger said he stayed at the Pentagon until the evening and that the hours he spent there left a lasting impact.
“I’m not going to go away from it, walk away from it,” he said. “It’s something that you’ll remember the rest of your life.”
Now 81, Eichelberger said the memory remains vivid.
Eichelberger said he has not been back to the Pentagon since that day, but added, “Someday, I would.”