Americans are pausing in remembrance today for the 11th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. Thousands have gathered at the World Trade Center site in New York, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania to read the names of the nearly 3000 killed during the terror attack on the U.S.
President Barack Obama is attending the Pentagon memorial and Joe Biden will speak in Pennsylvania.
Last years tenth anniversary milestone resulted in thousands in attendance at the ceremony in New York. This year sees fewer numbers with less than 500 families gathering to read their loved ones names at the memorial which has been built over the fallen twin towers.
Joe Torres, who helped clean up debris after the attacks, said to the Associated Press, "The 11th year, for me, it's the same as if it happened yesterday. It could be 50 years from now, and to me, it'll be just as important as year one, or year five or year ten."
Former New York governor George Pataki said to The AP, "As the names are read out, I just listen and have great memories of people who I knew very well who were on that list of names. It was very emotional."
See the following links to live streams where you can watch the 9/11 memorial event live.
911memorial.org
ABC News
Here is the full schedule of events at the memorial according to ABC:
- "8:39 a.m. - Program begin
- Bagpipers and drummers lead WTC flag through memorial to the stage
- Young People's Chorus of New York City performs the National Anthem
- 8:46 a.m. - Moment of silence (observance of time AA Flight 11 struck North Tower)
(Houses of worship will toll their bells throughout the City)Family members will begin reading the names in pairs
- There will be 100 pairs (200 readers) who will continue until all names are read
- Music will provide a backdrop throughout the program
- 9:03 a.m. - Moment of silence (observance of time UA Flight 175 struck South Tower)
Reading of names continues/music resumes - 9:37 a.m. - Moment of silence (observance of time AA Flight 77 struck the Pentagon)
Reading of names continues/music resumes - 9:59 a.m. - Moment of silence (observance of time of fall of the South Tower)
Reading of names continues/music resumes - 10:03 a.m. - Moment of silence (observance of time UA Flight 93 crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania)
Reading of names continues/music resumes - 10:28 a.m. - Moment of silence (observance of time of fall of the North Tower)
- Reading of names continues to conclusion/music resumes
- Young People's Chorus of New York City performs "Give Us Hope"
- Taps performed by three trumpeters (NYPD, FDNY, PAPD)
- 12:30 p.m. - Program concludes
- 8:00 p.m. - National September 11 Memorial Closes"
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
