America Remembers Sept. 11 Victims

7th Anniversary Of Terrorist Attacks Marked By Familiar Rituals In New York, D.C. and Pa.

(CBS/ AP)  The nation paused Thursday to mark the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks with heartfelt remembrances at the World Trade Center site, the dedication of a memorial at the Pentagon and a planned visit to ground zero by the presidential candidates.

Relatives of victims killed at the World Trade Center gathered in a park in lower Manhattan for readings from dignitaries and a recitation of the names of the dead. Later Thursday, Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain were due at ground zero to pay silent respects.

"Today marks the seventh anniversary of the day our world was broken," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at the start of the ceremony, calling Sept. 11, 2001, a "day that began like any other and ended as none ever has."

The ritual in New York included moments of silence in the morning at 8:46, 9:03, and 9:59 and 10:29 - the times when two hijacked jets slammed into the trade center buildings and the twin towers fell.

Services were also held in Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon, where a new memorial was dedicated at a ceremony attended by President Bush. The Pentagon Memorial contains 184 benches - one for each victim that will glow with light in the night.

Among the speakers at the New York ceremony were three who were young children when their fathers went to work at the World Trade Center seven years ago and never came home. The children are now about 10, 11 and 13.

"I remember playing in the yard with him. I remember him pulling my wagon. He was strong. He always made me feel safe," said Alex Salamone, wearing the soccer jersey of his father, John. "I wish I could remember more, but we were so young when he died."

Family members and students representing more than 90 countries that lost victims on Sept. 11 read the names of 2,751 people killed in New York. At the same time, family members descended to the nearby footprints of the twin towers and paid their respects to their lost loved ones.

Relatives of victims began arriving at dawn at ground zero, now a huge construction site. American flags were draped over silent cranes, and some families held signs saying "We miss you," "We love you" or "You will never be forgotten."

The ceremony included many tearful remembrances as family members reflected on the amount of time that has passed since 2001 and expressed their support for American troops.

"They took from us innocent lives in the names of their God, and it seems some people have forgotten what happened here seven years ago," said Rosaria Reneo, sister of victim Daniela R. Notaro. "Our lives are filled with pain and always will be. Thank you to all the men and women fighting for us."

The family of Sept. 11 victim Michael Diehl went to ground zero wearing white T-shirts bearing his photo and 9/11/01.

"It's still very hard for us to come here. It doesn't get any easier," said Diehl's sister-in-law, Norma Linguito. "I just wish they'd get the memorial up so we can have something, a marker, to remember everyone."

McCain and Obama planned to visit the site after the ceremony concluded Thursday afternoon. The candidates agreed weeks ago to pull their campaign ads for the day and were appearing together Thursday night at a forum on volunteerism and service.

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani spoke at the ceremony - as he has every year in New York - drawing applause from some in the crowd. As the names were being read, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine and New York Gov. David Paterson walked down a ramp to lay flowers in the pit where the towers stood.

Last year's reading by Giuliani, then a presidential candidate, drew protests from family members who said the city was ill-prepared for the terrorist attacks under his leadership and questioned whether he should be there while running for the White House.

Many families had no opposition to McCain and Obama's visit, but some questioned whether the visit was necessary. "It's probably going to be more commercial. This really should be a day for the people who lived and worked down here," said Jane Wixted, who lost her police officer son Glen Pettit on Sept. 11.

But Pettit's former colleague, Chris DeAngelo, was glad they were coming. "One of them is going to lead this nation," he said. "And for that reason, both should come here to see what happened."

At the Pentagon memorial dedication, former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld mourned the airline passengers and those who "one morning kissed their loved ones goodbye, went off to work and never came home."

The Pentagon memorial is the first of three major Sept. 11 memorials to be completed. The 2-acre park, located at the spot where American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon's west wall, consists primarily of 184 cantilevered benches, each bearing a victim's name.

The president and first lady marked the anniversary during a moment of silence on the South Lawn of the White House, then went to the Pentagon where the president spoke at a service.

In Pennsylvania, several hundred people gathered to read the names of 40 victims killed in Shanksville where Flight 93 came down after passengers reportedly stormed the cockpit to thwart terrorists' plans to use that plane as a weapon like the others. McCain was among those honoring the victims.

Memorials are years away from being built in Pennsylvania and New York. As in past years, two bright blue beams of light will shine at night on the New York City skyline, in memory of the fallen towers.

The New York ceremony included one more victim name than last year. The city restored Sneha Philip, a woman who vanished on Sept. 10, 2001, to its official death toll this year after a court ruled that she was likely killed at the trade center.

As the nation marked the seventh anniversary of 9/11, most Americans believe the U.S. is adequately prepared to deal with another terrorist attack against the country, according to a new CBS News poll.

In the poll, 52 percent said they thought the U.S. was adequately prepared, compared to 39 percent who said the U.S. was not prepared. This is the first time since March 2003 - right after the U.S. invasion of Iraq - that a majority held that opinion. As recently as last September, after the revelations of a failed terrorist plot in London that summer, 56 percent said the U.S. was not adequately prepared.

[shanev137]

$1 trillion dollars and 7 years later, Bush still never got Osama Bin Laden.

[john43218]

Candidly, his act is getting very thin; people are catching on to him. He cannot sustain this fraud for a long period of time.


Obama has several areas of vulnerability,lack of experience both on foreign and domestic issues and his naivety.


This is a candidate who supports, for example, driver''s licenses for illegal immigrants. It was an idea first proposed by former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer.


This is an insane idea. We''re going to give government-issued IDs to illegal immigrants that we can''t keep track of and we don''t know where they are, we can''t account for them today. When a government-issued ID is necessary to rent a car, rent a truck, make a credit card, get on an airplane, all things terrorists need to do to mount another attack on this country.


Obama''s has a total lack of realistic experience regarding terrorism and national security.


I think national security and energy are the two issues that McCain must stress to take Obama down.

[usclimey]

Posted by John43218

Thanks for interrupting a story of rememberance with your usual brand of unqualified invective. You should be ashamed - but of course you won''t - neocons have no meaning for that word.

While mourning your American losses on 9/11 please remember the 327 foreigners who died also, including 67 of my fellow country men.

[gop_will_win]

I bet liberals are dancing in the streets celebrating today like they did on 9-11.

[liberalme]

I bet liberals are dancing in the streets celebrating today like they did on 9-11.

Posted by gop_will_win

Your comments express your stupidity, ignorance and lack of intelligence.

[ioweign]

I think national security and energy are the two issues that McCain must stress to take Obama down.

Posted by John43218 at 08:43 AM : Sep 11, 2008

If John McCain cared about the National Security Of the United States, he would not have picked Sarah Palin as his replacement.

McCain voted against the Webb amendment calling for adequate troop rest between deployments.

McCain voted against an amendment that would provide $20 million to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for health care facilities.

McCain voted against increasing Veterans medical services funding by $1.5 billion in FY 2007 to be paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes.

McCain voted to table an amendment by Senator Dodd that called for an additional $322,000,000 for safety equipment for United States forces in Iraq.

McCain urged other Senate members to table a vote (which never passed) to provide more than $1 billion for National Guard and Reserve equipment in Iraq related to a shortage of helmets, tents, bullet-proof inserts, and tactical vests.

McCain voted against increasing the amount available for medical care for veterans by $650,000,000.

When it comes to their claim to support the troops, John McCain and his party are flat-out liars. The message is simple - if you really support the troops, stop voting Republican.

[gop_will_win]

Your comments express your stupidity, ignorance and lack of intelligence. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Posted by liberalme
============================
I seen an advertisement for a liberal 9-11 fest. Free turbins, maniquines in soldiers clothing to be spat upon, hamburgers cooked with burning flags. You people are sick!

[gop_will_win]

$1 trillion dollars and 7 years later, Bush still never got Osama Bin Laden.


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Posted by shanev137 at 08:28 AM : Sep 11, 2008
=======================
Yes he did. It was a long time ago. You must have forgotten that. Lets move on.

[ioweign]

Republican Gear Up Vote Supression Programs

The Michigan Messenger reports on efforts by state Republicans to suppress voter turnout, mostly among blacks.

Ohio Republicans are poised to follow a similar gameplan.

[fsw3]

Let''s remember this day by reading a children''s book at an elementary school. Let''s do absolutely nothing for seven minutes. The fight a half-*** war, corner Bin Laden, then let him slip away. Then let''s get into a totally unnecessary war, have 4000 plus fine young men and women die while we spend six billion a month on it. Let''s retrict civil liberties and suspend the U.S. Constitution. Above let''s lie, lie, lie. This is the proper commemoration of this horrible anniversary.

[jydavis1]

the greatest false flag operation in the history of humanity - an inside job beyond all others... very sad

[ioweign]

The "war on terror" as being conducted is the biggest fraud in US history.


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Posted by tuckerndfw at 09:06 AM : Sep 11, 2008


based on what? the fact that you are obsessed with Bush?

Posted by jamesm12341 at 09:23 AM : Sep 11, 2008



Bush is obsessed with self...

[usclimey]

Einstein once said "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

Posted by john43218

Which is EXACTLY why we can''t afford another 4 minutes let alone 4 years of Bush.

[ioweign]

Yes he did. It was a long time ago. You must have forgotten that. Lets move on.

Posted by gop_will_win at 09:19 AM : Sep 11, 2008

Lets move on.

Don''t you wish...

[usclimey]

What do the top ten cities with the highest poverty rate have in common?

Democratic Leadership.

Posted by john43218

So what in all your Republican magninamity would you all do if elected mayor of one of these cities. Now remember the crime rates in those cities are directly related to federal Republicans cutting any plan supposed to re-employ or educate the poor. They are responsible for cutting after school programs which would help to keep kids off the streets. They are responsible for high housing costs so that the poor need to work multiple jobs to make ends meet etc.etc. So what exactly would a Republican mayor of Detroit say do other than *** and moan it''s all the democrat''s fault?

[usclimey]

I bet liberals are dancing in the streets celebrating today like they did on 9-11.

Posted by gop_will_win

I bet gop_will_win is the latest reincarnation gop soccermom/forever/hockeymom.

[TommyCraig]

Posted by TomMarAlem19 at 08:29 AM : Sep 11, 2008
So are you saying that the action was somehow justified?
Are we not supposed to respond?
Is there anything going on in the world that the Jews can''t be blamed?

The palestinians live as they do because they continuously attack Israel. Evertime Israel relaxes the borders, they are attacked again.
What would you do?

[xmanborg]

gop_will_win

AAAAAwwwww whats the matter was I right on the button with what I sad and the facts were 99.9% correct. Thats Hurts Doesnt it gop_will_win when the facts are right in your face you douschbag.

[gop_will_win]

AAAAAwwwww whats the matter was I right on the button with what I sad and the facts were 99.9% correct. Thats Hurts Doesnt it gop_will_win when the facts are right in your face you douschbag.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by XmanBorg
=========================
The facts are 9-11 happened during Clintons watch and everyone knows this, Clinton started the Iraq war over cigars, and we elected George W Bush to solve all problems and ills which he has. Amen.

[usclimey]

All this "Bush/Clinton was asleep on the job" water under the bridge. As to the "inside job" conspiracy theorists - get a life for crying out loud. I dislike Bush intensly and reckon he''s by far the worst ever US president, but he didn''t direct 9/11. Come on people get real. Truth is unless we''d had exct information on where, when and how the hijackers were going to board the planes on 9/11 itself, there''s precious little any one could have stopped this disaster from happening.

[jenandmanny]

Apart from the obvious, what bothers me the most about 9/11 is the fact that this government never made the effort to apologize to the victims families for having let this calamity happen and never gave an explanation why they were caught with their pants down, they just put blame on the wrong country and went off on an 8 year war looking or a ghost.

What makes people think that if terrorist were able to coming to our back yard and bomb not only the twin towers but also the PENTAGON and this government didn''t do anything to protect us, Heck!! they didn''t do anything to protected themselves!!, that we can step out of our element and go into their world and kill them where ever they may be.
Kill who?...everyone but Bush knows that terrorist cells are scattered all over the world.

Yes what happened on 9/11 was a very hard reality and it could happen again because it shouldn''t of happened the first time under this governments watch.

[gop_will_win]

XmanBorg

You Dousch bag get an original thought and dont copy my stuff, your a cut and paste douschbag democrat.

[jenandmanny]

Apart from the obvious, what bothers me the most about 9/11 is the fact that this government never made the effort to apologize to the victims families for having let this calamity happen and never gave an explanation why they were caught with their pants down, they just put blame on the wrong country and went off on an 8 year war looking or a ghost.

What makes people think that if terrorist were able to come into to our back yard and bomb not only the twin towers but also the PENTAGON and this government didn''t do anything to protect us, Heck!! they didn''t do anything to protected themselves!!, that we can step out of our element and go into their world and kill them where ever they may be.
Kill who?...everyone but Bush knows that terrorist cells are scattered all over the world.

Yes what happened on 9/11 was a very hard reality and it could happen again because it shouldn''t of happened the first time under this governments watch.

[Razzl]

Part of the deep shame and disgrace of Bush and Cheney and Rove and Delay and all their ilk is that they forced so many of us to fight their wicked misuse of this event as one of their political tools that most of us are simply weary of fighting about it and will no longer think back on it or commemorate it. How many leaders would be so incompetent as to follow this tragedy with a stupid and pointless war that would throw away 10 times the lives that were lost in the original tragedy? We need an end to their wickedness so we can be made whole again...

[jenandmanny]

Apart from the obvious, what bothers me the most about 9/11 is the fact that this government never made the effort to apologize to the victims families for having let this calamity happen and never gave an explanation why they were caught with their pants down, they just put blame on the wrong country and went off on an 8 year war looking or a ghost.

What makes people think that if terrorist were able to come into to our back yard and bomb not only the twin towers but also the PENTAGON and this government didn''t do anything to protect us, Heck!! they didn''t do anything to protected themselves!!, that we can step out of our element and go into their world and kill them where ever they may be.
Kill who?...everyone but Bush knows that terrorist cells are scattered all over the world.

Yes what happened on 9/11 was a very hard reality and it could happen again because it shouldn''t of happened the first time under this governments watch.

[pensacola98]

Our country learned a great lesson about who our friends are and what we can count on them to do.

Tony Blair, the Prime Minister of England, spoke most eloquent and kind towards his parliament about us, as they debated the course of action to pursue.

John Howard, the Prime Minister of Australia, provided steadfast support to us as we pursued justice in Afghanistan.

Vicente Fox, the President of Mexico, provided support and challenge to President Bush as we deployed to Afghanistan. It was President Fox who disagreed with President Bush about the USA invasion of Iraq. History proves that President Fox (Harvard Educated) knew something about effective foreign policy that the USA didn''t know. Mexico did end relations with Cuba after being one of their only allies under the Fox administration.

Saddaam Hussien was interviewed and revealed his greatest fear was his Iranian neighbors. Bluffing about his WMD program and being uncooperative with UN weapons inspectors, was his most effective deter for an Iranian invasion. He was executed with no WMD or proven ties to any Al Queida operations.

The Leaders in our world need discernment, wisdom and humility. Watching them debate and deliberate after the 9-11 disaster seemed to be like watching Henry Fonda in "Twelve Angry Men".

[thevicar1]

IT made me very sad this morning to tune in the ole telly and see that ceremony at ground zero...

Seven years and still, all we have is hole in the ground with a bunch of construction workers standing around, scratching their brains, waiting for something to build itself into a sense of national pride.

Seven years, and steam still rises from a patch of dirt in the center of a once proud city that could do ANYTHING in a New York Minute.

Seven years...

I think THEY won

[jumkey]

Never forget the treachery of the Republicans who used this attack to advance their own agenda, who danced on the graves of 3,000 murder victims.

The story isn''t just that there are religious fanatics that want to harm us but that there are "Americans" who will stand by and watch.

The story is that Republicans hate American values.

[fsw3]

Harpcourt3 is a fine example...professing patriotism while aligning himself with the terrorist. He wants to throw the people who want to defend this country and our way of life out of the country. Suggested reading: MY PET GOAT, that is, if it isn''t above your reading level. It probably is.

[upto007]

I can''t see living in the pass. Get a life, move on. You don''t need to forget, but you, no one, can wast a life by living in the pass. I have not forgot the ones I have lost, but I don''t live with it. Wake Up and live.

[gop_will_win]

I remember 9-11. I was watching everything happen on TV and there was Clinton looking like an idiot. Then I looked out my window and the liberals were all celebrating in the streets like they won something.

[donnie7391]

Richest lady in the world.. plain? But she had her virtues. And lots of people loved her fer what she was, and not fer what she was worth. And now look at all the gangsters showing up at her memorial..

[xmanborg]

REMEMBER 7 YEARS AGO TODAY: SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

George W Bushie was sitting in a class room with a bunch of Children during story time and after the first plane hit he sat there for COUNTLESS Minutes looking like a DUMBFOUNDED REETARDED DOUSCHBAG and thinking what should I do.

The FACTS:

1. George W Bushie had a Memo warning about an attack on the USA a few weeks before 9-11 and he did nothing.

2. Both World Trade Center Towers Collapsed after getting hit by Jets and World Trade Center # 7 burned for hours and also Collapsed.

3. The Pentagon was also hit by a Jet and United Flight 93 was plane # 4 but was saved by some very brave American citizens who fought back !

4. All this Happen on 09-11-2001 when George W Bushie was President and on the Republicans Watch.

5. So the Country is NOT SAFER OR MORE SECURE with a Republican as President, Republicans are ( 0 for 1 ) advantage terrorists, Because Bushie had warning an attack was going to happen and did nothing and all this happen on the Republicans WATCH.

6. You can put Lipstick on a Pig but it%u2019s still a Pig.

[realpatriot1]

The only ones who benefit when Americans fight with Americans over who did or said what and when and who''s to blame for WTC1 or WTC2 or the USS Cole are the ones who attacked us.

There''s plenty that we don''t know about September 11 and it''s worth trying to learn what we can but here''s what we know for sure. We were attacked on that day by people who did it before then and will do it again if they can.

Whether Al Quaeda & the Taliban are aligned with Sadaam or the CIA or Mossad or Bush or Iran isn''t what matters. What matters is they are the ones we know did it, brag about, and threaten and train to do it again.

They''re living and training in Pakastan and conducting cross border raids against our troops in Afghnaistan while similtaneously operating new terrorist training camps while Pakastan claims soverirn authority over territory they say they can''t control.

We need to go get the people who actually attacked us and send the message to anyone who wants to follow suit that if you attack the American people we won''t just threaten to follow you to the gates of hell, we''ll actually do it!

Let''s roll!

[donnie7391]

The people that come to yer funeral can shed crocodile teers like it were rehearsed in a mirror.

[fsw3]

harpcourt3, please leave the country because you are making heroes out of the terrorists, the enemies of the country. Unless you are silly prankster, you are truly aligned with Bin Laden and you hate MY COUNTRY, the United States of America.

[donnie7391]

They can pretend they loved ya. They can pretend they knew ya.. And they can pretend they''re going to find justice fer ya.

[donnie7391]

But real people don''t cry.. before they find out why.

[fsw3]

harpcourt3, I have read Thomas Paine''s book COMMON SENSE. Much better than your suggested reading. I love freedom, the United States of America, and at various times in my life I have sworn to defend my country, the United States of America, against people like you, the enemies of my country.

[donnie7391]

Let the carpetbaggers make their useless speeches.. *spit*

[hacker101001]

Let the Dead Bury Their Dead.........

[xmanborg]

REMEMBER 7 YEARS AGO TODAY: SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

George W Bushie was sitting in a class room with a bunch of Children during story time and after the first plane hit he sat there for COUNTLESS Minutes looking like a DUMBFOUNDED REETARDED DOUSCHBAG and thinking what should I do.

The FACTS:

1. George W Bushie had a Memo warning about an attack on the USA a few weeks before 9-11 and he did nothing.

2. Both World Trade Center Towers Collapsed after getting hit by Jets and World Trade Center # 7 burned for hours and also Collapsed.

3. The Pentagon was also hit by a Jet and United Flight 93 was plane # 4 but was saved by some very brave American citizens who fought back !

4. All this Happen on 09-11-2001 when George W Bushie was President and on the Republicans Watch.

5. So the Country is NOT SAFER OR MORE SECURE with a Republican as President, Republicans are ( 0 for 1 ) advantage terrorists, Because Bushie had warning an attack was going to happen and did nothing and all this happen on the Republicans WATCH.

6. You can put Lipstick on a Pig but it%u2019s still a Pig.

[gop_will_win]

Let us remember the real facts fellow patriots like when Bill Clinton stood there that day looking like an idiot and how Al Gore ran around looking for a place to hide! Then we elected George W Bush and the terrorists feared us again! Remember that and vote republican.

[donnie7391]

''Have you seen any of these people before?''

''Nope. Not a one.''

''Its fascinating who shows up at a funeral. Isn''t it?''

''Its nuts.''

[candy-apple]

Don''t you people ever take a break??? This is supposed to be a day to remember those who lost their lives on 09/11/01. The bickering gets really old. Put the blame for 09/11 where it really lies, at the feet of the terrorist who attacked our great country. What a novel concept.

God Bless those who serve our great country (in any capacity) and those who have sacrificed for her.

[donnie7391]

National security ain''t up to presidents. Its a big big underground machine of multi-billion dollar hardware paid by tax payer money. Nope.. they knew what was happening alright. They knew it like you were watching a soap opera on tv.. They just didn''t do anything about it.

[fsw3]

harpcourt3, I have actively defended my country. I have served in uniform. If one plans a terrorist attack or commits one, they should be pursued and imprisoned. A truly freedom loving individual does not abridge, or revoke the U.S. Constitution. Remember Benjamin Franklin ''those who would sacrifice a little bit of freedom for a little bit of security shall have neither.'' President Bush and his ilk has played right into the terrorist hands, I believe to score poltiical points.

[donnie7391]

They didn''t do anything about it because they wanted oil. They wanted a mission..

[donnie7391]

These are the same people that ordered a buncha soldiers to torture people at Abu Graib, ya know. The intelligencia..

[donnie7391]

To them? Politics and party is everything.. and duty.. is nothing.