Out of 9/11 Grief Comes Spirit of Service

8th Anniversary of Terrorist Attacks Marked By Calls to Help Others

(CBS/AP)  Last Updated at 11:18 a.m.EDT

The nation marked the eight anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks by honoring the spirit of those who rushed forward to help, from sifting through the fiery rubble at ground zero to sending supplies from thousands of miles away.

Friday was the first time the anniversary was observed as a national day of service, following an order signed this year by President Barack Obama.

"From this day forward, we will safeguard the memories of those who died by rekindling the spirit of service that lit our city with hope and helped keep us strong," said New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at a ceremony in lower Manhattan.

Drawing on the spirit that spurred volunteers to rush to the burning towers on Sept. 11, 2001, Americans looked for ways to help each other on a day better known for mourning.

Special Section: September 11, 2001 - Eight Years Later

Teresa Mathai, whose husband, Joseph Mathai, died at the World Trade Center eight years ago Friday, planned to grieve at a morning wreath-laying ceremony in Boston and hear his name read out loud. Then she planned to install drywall at a home in south Boston with Habitat for Humanity, one of thousands of volunteer efforts planned since Sept. 11 was declared a national day of service.

"Everyone has a different way of mourning," she said. "Some people keep it absolutely sacred. For me, this is something that gives us solace."

The combination of mourning and national giving was troubling to some who feared the volunteerism would overshadow a somber day to remember the four hijacked jetliners that crashed into the twin towers, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field, killing nearly 3,000 people, most in New York.

"When I first heard about it, I was concerned," said Debra Burlingame, whose brother was the pilot of the American Airlines jet that crashed into the Pentagon. "I fear, I greatly fear, at some point we'll transition to turning it into Earth Day where we go and plant trees and the remembrance part will become smaller and smaller and smaller."

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Across the country, a fundraiser to repair storm damage at Central Park, beach cleanups and repairs of homeless shelters were among the organized efforts to give back.

Traditional memorial ceremonies were held in New York City, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pa.

Mr. Obama and first lady Michelle Obama observed a moment of silence in honor of 9/11 victims outside the White House as a single bugler played taps. A Washington rain came to a stop as the observance began at 8:46 a.m., the moment the first jetliner struck the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. About 150 White House staffers stood in silence around the Obamas.

At a plaza adjacent to ground zero in New York City, families gathered under a cold and steady rain while the names of the Trade Center victims were read, pausing for moments of silence at the minutes the jetliners crashed into the towers.

People involved in volunteer work across the nation joined relatives of victims to read the names of those lost in the twin towers.

One reader represented a group called New York Says Thank You, which sends volunteers from New York City each year on the attacks anniversary to help rebuild communities around the country affected by disasters as a way to send thanks for the help that came to New York City after Sept. 11.

Other readers were from well-known service organizations including the American Red Cross and the United Way.

Thousands were expected Friday at ceremonies at the Pentagon and the crash site of United Airlines Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pa.

In New York City, Vice President Joe Biden spoke during a pause in the reading of the names, telling the several hundred victims' relatives gathered that "there's a special fraternity for those of us who've lost spouses and children." Biden's daughter and first wife died in a 1972 automobile accident.

Before he spoke, Biden joined families who were laying flowers in a reflecting pool on the site where the towers once stood.

Relatives and friends of victims were allowed on Friday to visit the plaza for the Sept. 11 memorial that is under construction. It is expected to be partially complete and open for the 10th anniversary.

Former President George W. Bush had no public appearances planned Friday, and a spokesman said he would be working in his office during the morning. In a brief statement, he said he and his wife, Laura, were thinking of the victims and their families.

"We honor those who volunteer to keep us safe and extend the reach of freedom - including members of the armed forces, law enforcement officers, and intelligence and homeland security professionals," the statement said. "Their courage, service, and sacrifice is a fitting tribute to all those who gave their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. On this day, let us renew our determination to prevent evil from returning to our shores."

[Illuminated1]

I demand an investigation be held with open hearings and full public disclosure.
I am not convinced by the evidence presented by FEMA that the airliners brought down the WTC towers and building 7.
Jetfuel burns at 500F* at its hottest. The titanium alloy was graded to withstand 2000F* heat. Most of the fuel on both airliners spilt outside the structures with about 3500 gallons causing a fire....at the rate the fuel burns in the open, it burnt off in 5 minutes.
The building went down in demolition style and at the speed of gravity which is impossible for one, yet not only did one tower go down but 2 instead, taking with it supossedly building 7 (reported down 20 minutes before it actually happened).
The pentagon attack was a blatent lie. No evidence exists that supports the airliner crashing into the building. none. All they have are the bodies, which didn't disintegrate like the plane...explain that.
However evidence did get pulled from the wreckage that proves it was an old jet fighter of which only a few exist any longer... hushed up of course.

[rightiswrong]

"On this day, let us renew our determination to prevent evil from returning to our shores."

Perhaps 'Evil' should have been prevented from ever reaching our 'shores' in the first place. Eh?

[rightiswrong]

Also, let those who were harmed in any way from the 9/11 attacks, and the subsequent wars be blessed with peace.

[KlausAli]

Flight 93 deserves consideration on this 8th anniversary of 9/11. Recognition of the national memorial at Shankville, Pa. is important to all Americans. We should consider the call to national heroism as exemplified by 93 flight passengers.

Worse than the Alamo or Pear Harbor, Islamic terrorist hijack U.S. commercial flights and used the jets as bombs to destroy U.S. primary institutions and kill thousands of innocent U.S. civilians. It was a surprise attack by a vile enemy full of hatred of the U.S. that caused devastating immediate and long lasting effects on all Americans.

The national memorial of Flight 93 is a vivid reminder of the courage and spirit of the American people as shown by the passengers who fought back against the hijackers. We remember them with the honor and the highest respect for their heroism.

They overcame the hijackers and stormed the cockpit to prevent the jet from reaching the intended target in Washington D.C. God bless America and the people who make our National strong one Nation under God. Our prayers to the Lord Jesus are for those souls before the praise of God our Father.

[sam-kiley]

bonsoir
désolée pour toutes ces familles qui commémorent avec la meme douleur le huit tiéme anniversaire des attentats terroristes du 11 septembre.triste anniversare...
une pensée pour tous les disparus, qu'ls reposent en paix, le terrorisme
est la pire des choses qui puisse arriver aux nations du monde entier, nous ne cesserons jamais de le dénoncer et de le condamner..désolée encore..au revoir

[ibsteve2u]

We should be mourning...if you consider the state of our economy and the litany of heinous actions of our banks and Wall Street, the only honest people in American high finance must have been in the WTC.

[hutch1934]

9/11 was an in-house conspiracy by our own government aided and abetted by ISRAEL (Planes that hit WTC and Pentagon) and SAUDI ARABIA that supplied ACTORS (portraying highjackers). The tragedy is no less given the conspirators. Richard Clarke really did mean it when he told congress that "WE" had failed the American People. 9/11 not only triggered a war but began the steady march to reversing the Bill of Rights.

[excop1949]

Nothing wrong with "service", but I am afraid that by focusing on "putting up drywall" instead of reflecting on what happened on September 11, it will morph into "Service Day",just as the media is beginning to completely ignore Pearl Harbor Day.
I wonder if they stopped putting up sheetrock at 0846 Eastern?

[oiaf0831]

It's 9/11. Effective immediately, Obama is to blame for everything.

It happened on his watch!

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Shame on you, you racist! You just can't stand having a black president.

[gunownerdan]

~ Terrorists Prefer Defenseless Victims ~

In some terrorist attacks it doesn't matter if the victims are armed but in other attacks(like Mumbai, India or Virginia Tech) armed bystanders can save many lives.

Never forget that the hijackers on 9/11 used little more than BOX CUTTERS to hijack the planes and murder thousands of people.
"One person with a box cutter can control 100 without one."

Get Educated...

www . A-HUMAN-RIGHT . com

[woeisme1]

Oh shut up. All you stupid people do is propagate war and hatred with your idiotic gun mentality. Claiming that guns is the answer is plain stupid and callous! Yeah let's just arm everyone. That'll solve all our problems, right?

What a dope!

[nordeck52]

Its true, guns don't kill people (unless the thing is set to shoot automatically at anything it "sees" moving, anyway) . Not a single person has ever been killed by a gun. Countless people have however been killed by a person wielding a gun. There's a difference. I still don't think everyone needs to go around armed to the teeth though. This isn't the Wild West, people.

[debinok1]

wyodutch,

What you call "victim-worship" most people call mourning. This tragic event still lives in the hearts and minds of "most" americans, not just in NYC.