September 11, 2007
9/11 Victims Remembered At Events Around The Country
The Gate reported yesterday on the relative lack of commemorative spirit on this sixth anniversary of 9/11. However, the events of that day continue to evoke powerful memories for many Americans, particularly those directly affected by the attacks in New York and Washington and Pennsylvania. Events were held in each of those states this morning to commemorate those who lost their lives six years ago.
New York City. Events here differed from the previous five anniversaries. Due to construction at Ground Zero, the official memorial service was held in nearby Zuccotti Park. Bells tolled at the moments when the two World Trade Center towers were struck and collapsed. Mayor Michael Bloomberg delivered remarks before a crowd of emergency workers who were at Ground Zero on the day of the attacks and read out the names of the 2,750 people who perished there.
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has been criticized by some for attending the event this year while running for the GOP nomination for president, but he has been in New York on all six anniversaries and his remarks today were brief and non-controversial. Democratic presidential candidate and New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton was also in attendance.
City officials decided to allow family members of those who perished at the World Trade Center to gather briefly at the original site, but the New York Daily News reports that many chose not to, for various reasons.
Those who did gather devoted this day to remembrance of their loved ones. Voices of Sept. 11th, the advocacy group that sponsored the event, chose a theme this year of "Preserving 9/11" and created a 9/11 Living Memorial. Family members were encouraged to bring photos, newspaper articles and other mementos of their loved ones, which will be scanned and turned in to "a digital repository of photographs and mementos of those who died."
Voices founder Mary Fetchet told USA Today that "a transition is taking place with this anniversary. 'The fifth anniversary was a milestone and there was such a buildup,' said Fetchet, whose 24-year-old son, Brad, died in the World Trade Center. 'Now with the sixth anniversary, we can think of commemorating the lives of our family members.'"
Washington. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Gen. Peter Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, participated in a ceremony at the Pentagon, where 184 people were killed when an airplane struck the building. Pace called the anniversary "a day of re-commitment" for the U.S. military. A moment of silence was held at 9:37 a.m. and wreaths were laid at the spot of the crash. President Bush spent the day in the nation's capital, attending a service at St. John’s Episcopal Church and observing a moment of silence on the South Lawn of the White House with Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife, Lynn.
A more "permanent place for relatives, friends and visitors to come and reflect" is scheduled to open in the Washington, D.C., area in one year. The Washington Post reported this morning on the building of what will be called Pentagon Memorial Park.
Pennsylvania. In Shanksville this morning, about 400 people gathered to remember the 33 passengers and seven crew members of United Airlines Flight 93, who lost their lives after battling with hijackers for control of their plane. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff delivered remarks and bells were rung as the names of the victims were read.
This year's crowd was smaller than in years previous and Gov. Ed Rendell spoke of the need to complete a permanent memorial on the site "before living memories fade." But, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports on the difficulties that have plagued the monument's construction.
NPR reports on the Americans "across the globe" who paused to recognize the anniversary of the attacks. The New York Times and New York Post have more coverage of today's events and on what is being done to preserve the memory of 9/11 victims in the future.
USAF photo by Denise Gould
