The Pentagon 3,460 recipients of the Medal of Honor, the United States' highest military decoration. The Hall is also used for promotions, retirements, and other ceremonies. Notes Bibliography The Pentagon The Pentagon, in Arlington County, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense. As a symbol of the U.S. military, the phrase "The Pentagon" is often used as a metonym for the Department of Defense and its leadership. The building was designed by American architect George Bergstrom and built by contractor John McShain. Ground was broken on September 11, 1941, and the
Construction of the Virginia approaches to Arlington Memorial Bridge county to employ out-of-work, unskilled laborers on construction projects. To take advantage of the offer, Arlington County officials began work to fix the route for the approach to Arlington Memorial Bridge. A joint CFA/NCPC group studied the Lee Highway and other approaches to the bridge on November 15, and on December 4 the CFA said it would approve any approach that Virginia and Arlington County did. But the Lee Highway connection was never again actively considered by Arlington County or the state of Virginia. Work on the Washington Boulevard approach actually began in 1931. Angry citizens pushed the count to