A bittersweet day for 9/11 families

Nearly 3,000 people died on September 11th, 2001. Each anniversary, they're remembered in lower Manhattan, at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pa. But their families live with the loss every day of the year. CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric caught up with some families of the victims.

Most family members call the news of Osama bin Laden's death bittersweet - and are still trying to process it.

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Sonya Houston lost her husband, a Port Authority police officer. "My thoughts were still kind of numb. My situation has not changed. My kids still don't have their father," she said. "I hope this stops the killing and this war can be ended. Bring the troops home now."

Her son Hasani was only 4 years old at the time. He's 14 now, and doesn't feel vengeful.

"I knew he was a bad person, but I never thought that he had to die," Hasani said. "I didn't think we need to get him."

As it was when we first interviewed him five years ago, Hasani still has his father's jacket. He says one day, maybe he'll be a police officer too.

"I miss him a lot," Hansani said. "I was 4, but I still remember the times we had."

Ginny Bauer became a victim's advocate after her husband David was killed working at the financial firm Cantor Fitzgerald. Bin Laden's demise is a testament, she says, to America's persistence and commitment - and a tribute to all who died.

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"I'm just so proud of our country," Ginny said. "It might have been a long time coming. But we were successful. I am just so proud of our president. They did it -- we got him."

Carie Lemack's mother Judy Larocque was on American Airlines Flight 11 when it crashed into the World Trade Center.

"It's important today that the victims' voices are stronger and louder than the terrorists," Carie said. "Today we know that Bin Laden's voice has been silenced."

She said her mission is to keep her mother's spirit alive. "My mom was a big Red Sox fan, so she brought my sister and I up to believe that anything is possible," Carie said. "And in 2004 when they finally won the World Series for the first time in 86 years it was her birthday."

In the wake of her mother's death, Carie also produced a documentary about global terrorism that she hopes will send a message of non-violence to would-be radicals. "We were always upset that Bin Laden and other terrorists get to release these videos and get all kinds of publicity, and we thought, well if they do it why shouldn't we."

The attacks on 9/11 left a lasting legacy on the Riches family. Three of the boys became firefighters after oldest son Jimmy perished that day. He was 29 years old. Jim Riches a deputy fire chief almost died of respiratory problems he suffered as a first responder. The news about bin Laden has finally provided him with some relief.

"There will always be a hole in our hearts," Riches said. "But it's nice to know that the man who bragged - who murdered our children has met death."

But he didn't focus on the death of a terrorist for long.

"I miss my son," Riches said. "Every day, every hour. He's my shining star."