Obama reflects on post-9/11 generation

President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama on Thursday marked the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks with moments of silence on the White House South Lawn and at the Pentagon. He also participated in a wreath laying ceremony.

At the Pentagon observance ceremony, Mr. Obama paid tribute to the victims, praised their families' resilience, and reflected on the generation of post-9/11 Americans.

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"Tomorrow there will be teens who were born after 9/11," he said. "It's remarkable. Although they didn't know the horror of those days, their lives have been shaped by the pain since... What gives us hope -- what give me hope -- is that it is these young Americans who will shape all the days to come."

Mr. Obama noted that the war in Afghanistan will come to an end in December, but he made no mention of the increased military operations to combat Islamic extremists in the Middle East, which he announced Wednesday night.

At the White House, Mr. Obama, Mrs. Obama and Vice President Joe Biden stood on the South Lawn at 8:45 a.m. with hundreds of White House and government employees.