Ground zero workers on rising towers, bin Laden

A week that began with news of the death of the leader of al Qaeda ended with a day honoring victims of the 9/11 attacks. "Early Show" co-anchor Chris Wragge was at ground zero within hours of the president's address to the nation.

Special section: The killing of Osama bin Laden

Wragge reported President Obama's visit to ground zero where Twin Towers once stood was marked by silence and remembrance. It was an emotional end to a week that had special meaning for ironworkers who are now in a race to rebuild what Osama bin Laden destroyed on September 11, 2001.

Wragge asked ironworker Rob Liggio, "When you first found out the news what was your immediate reaction?"

Liggio said, "Jubilation. I got happy. Just a long time coming you know."

Liggio is an ex-marine who served in Kuwait. Now, his mission along with his local 40 brothers is measured in steel. They're building a floor a week on Tower 1, which will stand a symbolic 1,776 feet.

Field superintendent at the site Kevin Murphy said, "It feels a lot better now knowing we got him. We're going up higher every day of the week here. It's another milestone for this job for sure."

Wragge said, "With Tower 1 up over 60 stories and the memorial really starting to take shape with the 10-year anniversary coming up this fall, construction workers we spoke with today said the killing of Osama bin Laden gives everyone here some measure of closure."

Liggio said the killing offers "kind of a sense of justice."

Brian Lyons, who lost his brother on September 11, said upon news of bin Laden's death, people began texting him, he said, "some words you can't say on TV."

For Lyons, it was the best news he's heard since 2001. He's worked at ground zero every day since losing his brother.

Lyons said, "When the memorial opens it will be all good. It's all good from here on in."

It was President Bush who rallied workers here at ground zero almost a decade ago. He said at the time via a bullhorn, "The people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon."

On Thursday President Obama did not mention bin Laden by name, but left no doubt what he meant when he said justice had been done.

Obama said during his visit, "When we say we will never forget, we mean what we say."

Carrie LeMack, who lost her mother on 9/11, said, "What he ordered to happen on Sunday was for my mom, it was for all of those killed on 9/11, and it's for everyone who suffered at the hands of terrorism around the globe."

Ironworkers know there's a long way to go before they reach their goal of 100 floors by Christmas, but, Wragge said, with this week's news of bin Laden's death, they've already gotten one of their best presents.

Rob Liggio said, "Lotta smiles. Especially in the morning. You don't see guys smiling too much. Lot of smiles this morning."

On "The Early Show," Joe Daniels, president and chief executive officer of the National 911 Museum and Memorial, discussed the ongoing construction efforts taking place at Ground Zero in memory of those who died on that day. Click on the video below for new details on the architecture of the remembrance efforts.

For more on the 9/11 Memorial go to www.911memorial.org.