Lt. Cmdr. Eric Allen Cranford '92 lost his life while serving in the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. Twenty years later, his spirit of generosity and determination lives on through a scholarship created in his memory. https://t.co/OoRaiSCG6M #CampaignNCState https://t.co/JRdSxRj9da

Wolfpack91, thank you for sharing your memories of Eric.

https://news.giving.ncsu.edu/2021/09/not-self-but-others/

Lt. Cmdr. Eric Allen Cranford '92 lost his life while serving in the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. Twenty years later, his spirit of generosity and determination lives on through a scholarship created in his memory.

And it certainly did. Thanks to his time in ROTC, Eric was commissioned an ensign in the U.S. Navy after graduating from NC State.

Eric was promoted from ensign to lieutenant junior grade in 1994 and then to lieutenant in 1996. He and Emily later moved to Washington, D.C., so he could continue serving with the Navy while stationed at the Pentagon.

Per his wishes, Eric was buried at Arlington Cemetery (Section 64, Site 4866) with full military honors on Oct. 20, 2001, and he was posthumously promoted by the Navy to lieutenant commander. He was 32 years old.

The scholarship, which has been generously supported by Eric's family, friends and many other individuals and organizations over the years, is intended for Burke County residents studying at NC State who demonstrate high academic merit. Recipients must be in the top 10% of their high school graduating class and be nominated by their high school's guidance department. After they receive the scholarship, students must maintain full-time enrollment (at least 12 credit hours per semester) and a 3.0 cumulative GPA while pursuing their first degree in an undergraduate program.

The Eric A. Cranford Endowed Scholarship has been awarded 14 times to date, benefiting five students in total, as several of them received it multiple years

The resulting monument, located in Valdese, North Carolina, features a column representing Eric in the center of a concrete pentagon that commemorates all who were lost in the attack. A bronze plaque atop the column bears a tribute to Eric's life, as well as a piece of the rubble from the Pentagon.

Rest in Peace
LCDR Eric Cranford
Fair Winds & Following Seas

https://www.pentagonmemorial.org/biographies/lcdr-eric-a-cranford-usn/

Solemn Day and we should never forget the United States was attacked on this day 23 years ago.
2977 people lost their lives.
The twin towers of the World Trade Center in NY were hit by hijacked airplanes and leveled, The Pentagon was hit by an airplane and one additional airliner crashed in PA.

I remember my classmate LCDR. Eric Cranford USN who was killed in action at the Pentagon that fateful morning. Eric graduated a year after me in 1992 and was a dedicated alum and fan of NC State. I will never forget Eric and his sacrifice for our country.

Fair Winds & Following Seas

Wolfpack91 said:

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Solemn Day and we should never forget the United States was attacked on this day 23 years ago.
2977 people lost their lives.
The twin towers of the World Trade Center in NY were hit by hijacked airplanes and leveled, The Pentagon was hit by an airplane and one additional airliner crashed in PA.

I remember my classmate LCDR. Eric Cranford USN who was killed in action at the Pentagon that fateful morning. Eric graduated a year after me in 1992 and was a dedicated alum and fan of NC State. I will never forget Eric and his sacrifice for our country.

Fair Winds & Following Seas

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Thank you for reminding us about Eric and his service and his sacrifice.

Tootie4Pack said:

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Wolfpack91, thank you for sharing your memories of Eric.

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Second this. A reminder.