'I just want to move on'

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The Washington Times, in a special section commemorating the first anniversary of September 11, profiled three men and two women who survived the attack on the Pentagon. They agreed to update their stories for a series, After the Fire, this week marking the fifth anniversary.

First of five parts

As fellow Americans today remember September 11, 2001, with tributes, prayers and other commemorations, Louise Kurtz will try her best to forget that terrible day ever happened.

"I usually try to ignore 9/11. It stirs memories and emotions in me that I've been trying to forget," says Ms. Kurtz, who sustained severe burns -- some fourth-degree -- on 70 percent of her body during the terrorist attack on the Pentagon. "I just want to move on."

But as much as Ms. Kurtz tries, she can't blot out the memory of seeing and trying to help another woman who was on fire, and then looking down at her own swelling, blistering and reddening arms.

Or vanquish the memory of seeing pieces of the Pentagon crumbling around her.

She can't easily forget the 48 surgeries that followed, a year of wearing a "burn suit," the loss of her fingers and severe damage to her face and arms.

"My legs did OK," she says, pulling up black stretch pants to reveal some smooth skin and plenty of square indentations -- skin used for grafting.