On the 13th anniversary of 9/11, we asked people gathered near
Ground Zero if they were concerned about security and terrorism, one day
after President Obama spoke to the nation about his strategy to defeat
ISIS. (Video by Eileen Blass, USA TODAY)
The nation on Thursday marked the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks at the three sites where four hijacked planes crashed, a minutes-long wave of tragedy that killed almost 3,000 people, triggered at least two wars and rocked the entire world.
In New York, the loved ones of those who died shared a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. ET, the time when the first plane hit the World Trade Center's north tower in 2001. A second plane would hit the south tower less than 20 minutes later. By 10:30 that morning, both towers had collapsed.
After Thursday's moment of silence, the traditional roll call of the victims began. It included the names of the 2,983 victims of the 9/11 attacks at all three locations as well as the 1993 World Trade Center bombing that killed six people. The roll call readers included anecdotes about victims who wore yellow shoe laces or who quoted Ralph Waldo Emerson — and one victim who inspired the reader to join the military.
ARCHIVE: How the skies were cleared
Jordan Thompson, 17, joined the Marines in memory of his uncle, Leon Heyward, who died in 2008 of cancer after inhaling dust from the collapsed World Trade Center towers.
"There are people who need my help," Thompson said. "I'm willing to die to make sure another thing like 9/11 doesn't happen again."
Among the names Faith Tieri read was that of her brother, Sal Edward Tieri Jr. "Your memory and my love for you will last forever," she said. "This day should be a day of reflection and memory only."
Mary Ann Marino's list included her son, Kenneth Marino. "We love you," she said. "We miss you everyday. You are in our hearts and we cherish the memories."
Adriana Fiori started crying when she read the name of her father, Paul Fiori. "Thirteen years ago you put me to bed not knowing it would be the last night," she said. "I miss you so much. Daddy, you're my hero."
Others reading names included a young man who had never met his uncle killed on 9/11, a wife who lost her husband of 30 years and Barbara Pandolfo, whose only child, a daughter, was killed.
In Washington, Obama and members of his staff honored the victims of 9/11 at 8:46 a.m. with a moment of silence on the South Lawn of the White House. A bell tolled and a military bugler played Taps as the president, first lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Biden and aides stood with hands over hearts.
Obama then spoke at a Pentagon commemoration after a moment of silence was observed at 9:37 a.m., the moment a jet hit the Pentagon.
"Over more than a decade of war, this 9/11 generation has answered our country's call," Obama said at the event, which was open only to families of the victims. "Today, we honor all who have made the ultimate sacrifice over these 13 years."
Later, at a public Pentagon event, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel warned that the war on terrorism is far from over. The U.S. struggle with al-Qaeda, the terror group responsible for the attacks, has been overshadowed in recent weeks by a newer terror threat, the Islamic State.
"To the injured survivors who join us today, we draw strength from your resilience," Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel says. "America and it's allies are still being tested. We have the capacity, we have the strength to meet those challenges."
All 44 people aboard the Newark-to-San Francisco flight, including four hijackers, died when the passengers and crew apparently attempted to wrest control of the plane from the hijackers. Hastert said the hijackers' probably had planned on flying the plane to Washington, targeting the Capitol or White House. The heroism of those aboard may have saved the U.S. Capitol, he said.
The victims were posthumously awarded a Congressional Gold Medal. The observance also included a reading of the names of Flight 93 passengers and crew, ringing of Bells of Remembrance and a wreath laying.
Contributing: David Jackson in Washington, Natalie DiBlasio at the Pentagon
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