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Narrator: The F-B-I—you've likely seen those three letters that represent the world's premier law enforcement in the news, in TV shows and movies, in Ten Most Wanted Fugitives posters, and maybe even in person.

But what is it really like to be in the FBI?

How did Bureau evolve from a team of 34 special agents when it formed in 1908 to the mutidivision agency it is today?

What are some of the biggest cases they've investigated?

At The FBI Experience located in the Bureau's Headquarters in Washington, D.C., you can find answers to these questions, by exploring interactive exhibits, historical artifacts, the Bureau's Hall of Honor, and more.

And as we approach the 24th anniversary of 9/11, the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil and the launch of the FBI's largest and most complicated investigation, we've also added new items to our 9/11 exhibit.

In this episode of Inside the FBI, we'll learn more about these items, which include a limestone slab from the damaged Pentagon, and we'll hear from retired agent Eileen Roemer, who shares the stories behind two 9/11-related artifacts that she recently donated to The FBI Experience.

This is Inside the FBI.

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Narrator: On the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, 8:00 a.m., now retired special agent Eileen Roemer had finished her shift working at the Pentagon as part of her Navy reservist duties. By 8:30, she had left the building and was on her way home.

About an hour later, at 9:37 a.m., disaster struck when American Airlines flight 77 crashed into the west side of the Pentagon—the same area Roemer had recently departed.

Meanwhile, in New York, American Airlines Flight 11 had crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center at 8:46 a.m.

At 9:03 a.m., United Airlines Flight 175 slammed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center.

And at 10:03 a.m., United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Over two decades later, the events of 9/11 still weigh heavily on the hearts and minds of those who remember or who were impacted by it. The FBI Experience’s 9/11 exhibit serves as a tribute to all those whose lives were forever changed by the attacks and to the brave first responders who answered the call of duty.

Roemer went back to the Pentagon on Sunday, September 16 to assist in the aftermath of the disaster.

Roemer had two golden retrievers, Riley and Bailey, who she had trained to be cadaver dogs—or dogs trained to pick up the scent of human remains. The FBI's Washington Field office asked Roemer to bring her dogs and assemble an entire team of cadaver dogs and their handlers to search for victim remains in the debris at the Pentagon crash site. Roemer explains ...

Roemer: ... by the time we got to the scene, which was Sunday night at midnight after the Tuesday event, they were bringing the debris in dump trucks from the building. They were finished searching in there. They couldn't find anything else, and they knew that there had to be more in this debris. And the way to identify it was only going to be by the dogs.

Narrator: At the Pentagon site, a dump truck would transport debris into an area in the North Parking lot. The dogs would take multiple passes searching the debris, alerting their handlers if they found any human remains. In every pass, the dogs found something.

The FBI Evidence Response Team took care to examine and transport what the dogs found.

Roemer: If they came and took something that the dogs alerted on, they took it, and it was gone to us. It was in their hands. They were doing everything, you know, appropriately to, to honor those remains and to make sure that they got to where they needed to go to be identified for the families.

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Narrator: For almost two weeks, Roemer and the canine team worked 12-hours shifts.

Roemer: What I saw over those two weeks were people who were so dedicated they didn't want to leave. They wanted to stay there and get the job done, do the job. And even there were people who weren't FBI, people who came.

Veterinarians and vet techs came and volunteered. People came and brought us leashes, collars, booties for the dogs because they had to go through decontamination after they'd been in the pile, and so somebody was there—the vet techs—to put them in pools and watch them while we took our equipment off. So, there were many people from many walks of life who stopped everything they were doing.

And we would walk around after working the dogs, and we would see the people who were working. And some of them were, you know, like maybe taking a nap because they hadn't even gotten to go home. And the dogs kind of became therapy dogs as well, because everybody wanted to touch the dogs. Everybody wanted to be with the dogs.

Narrator: In the face of the tragedy, people were finding ways to assist any way they could—including children. Roemer shared that a group of children made signs and artwork to support and thank the recovery teams—including the teams of canines.

Roemer: And, you know, dogs are a big draw for people and especially children, and I think the children really felt like they were doing something, and they were making us feel good, and they were.

Narrator: Roemer donated these pictures to The FBI Experience, as well as banner that was displayed over the entryway of the canine recovery unit tent. They are more than just literal artifacts—they represent groups of people, united, in their support for one another, their community, and their nation.

When we asked Roemer, "What do you believe our next generation needs to remember about what happened that day?" Roemer replied:

Roemer: I think they need to remember how dramatic and, horrific it was. I mean, we all remember, you know, not only just what we saw with our own eyes, but on TV. I mean, all of us who could watch TV at that time were glued to the TV because there was so much emotion and so much love and caring.

Narrator: She notes that everyone had a unifying goal ...

Roemer: ... and that was to keep America safe and find out why this happened and who did it and to prevent it from ever happening again.

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Narrator: At the FBI Experience, you can view additional 9/11 artifacts, such as the recently-installed 610-pound piece of limestone damaged in the attack on the Pentagon. Based on the stone's shape, it likely came from near the roofline of the building. It is one of 12 stones from the Pentagon that the interagency Threat Screening Center selected to memorialize the victims of the devastating attack.

You can also view recovery materials from each of the three crash sites, and equipment from the 2011 raid on 9/11 sponsor Osama bin Laden's compound in Pakistan.

After exploring the 9/11 exhibit, Experience visitors can take a walk through the FBI Hall of Honor, which commemorates agents and professionals who died in the line of service—including those who died from exposure to toxic air during 9/11 response or recovery efforts—a somber reminder that keeping the nation safe can come at a heavy cost.

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Narrator: To learn more about The FBI Experience, including how to book your visit and explore new videos and other online resources, check out our updated website at fbi.gov/thefbiexperience. Please note that visitors, including small groups, must schedule tours through their U.S. senators and representatives. Schools can schedule tours by sending an email to fbigroups@fbi.gov. Tour reservations are required, and bookings must be made at least one month in advance of the visit.

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Narrator: This has been another production of Inside the FBI.

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On behalf of the FBI's Office of Public Affairs, thanks for tuning in.

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