From: REVO76 ANTI-TYRANT
US remembers 11 September attacks Obama says 9-11 victims were "sacrifice?"
I also find this a Very Odd and Disturbing word to use! ~LisaMarie~
Obama in tribute to 9/11 victims
Friday, 11 September 2009 15:42 UK
US President Barack Obama has paid tribute to the victims of the 11 September 2001 attacks.
Nearly 3,000 people died when the four planes crashed in New York, at the Pentagon and in a Pennsylvania field.
Speaking at the Pentagon on the eighth anniversary, Mr Obama vowed to "never falter" in pursuit of al-Qaeda.
As the ceremonies were held, it was reported that the US Coast Guard was conducting a training exercise on Washington DC's Potomac River.
Earlier reports suggested that shots were fired at a suspicious vessel on the river, but officials from the Department of Homeland Security denied this, telling the BBC the Coast Guard exercises were a daily occurrence.
'Sacrifices of thousands'
Thousands gathered for ceremonies in a square near New York's Ground Zero.
Remembrance services are being held around the country, with moments of silence being observed at the three sites.
Americans have been encouraged to contribute to a national day of service and in Afghanistan, US soldiers completed a 9.11km (5.5 mile) run to mark the day.
President Obama joined Defence Secretary Robert Gates at the Pentagon, where 184 people died, to meet members of victims' families and lay a wreath.
He paid tribute to the victims and vowed to continue the fight against America's enemies.
"In the defence of our nation we will never waver," he said. "In pursuit of al-Qaeda we will never falter.
Vice-President Joe Biden is attending the New York ceremony, where planes crashed into the World Trade Center towers, causing them to collapse.
Volunteers who helped in the aftermath of the attacks joined family members in reading the more than 2,700 names of the victims.
The BBC's Matthew Price in New York says the Ground Zero area remains a building site, despite plans for a memorial, a museum and five new skyscrapers.
Delays caused by political arguments and financial and legal disputes have left huge question marks over the entire project, he says.
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell will speak at the site of the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
The names of the 40 passengers and crew will be read to mark the time of the crash - 1003.
In a break with tradition, the anniversary has also been designated a national day of service.
On Thursday, Mr Obama issued a statement urging Americans to take part in community work.
Conservation projects, aid packages for serving soldiers and the simple offering of work for free are among the undertakings made by members of the public.
However, some commentators and members of victims' families have expressed concern that the remembrance may lose its primary focus.
Debra Burlingame, whose brother died at the Pentagon, told Associated Press news agency: "I greatly fear at some point we'll transition to turning it into Earth Day where we go and plant trees and the remembrance part will become smaller."
About 1,000 US troops in Afghanistan marked the anniversary with a 9.11km run at the main Bagram base in Kabul. Two other bases also took part.
The 9/11 attacks sparked the US-led invasion in October 2001 to oust the Taliban and tackle al-Qaeda leaders living in Afghanistan.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8249810.stm
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9/11: US remembers on September 11 anniversary
Memorial services are being held across the US to mark eighth anniversary of the Sept 11 terrorist attacks
Published: 1:01PM BST 11 Sep 2009
Nearly 3,000 people died when the four planes crashed into the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania. Ceremonies are to be held at these sites and all Americans have been encouraged to contribute to a national day of service.
President Barack Obama and defence secretary Robert Gates will speak at the Pentagon, where 184 people died, and meet members of the victims' family and lay a wreath.
Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, said Mr Obama would "speak about what the day means and the sacrifices of thousands, not just at the Pentagon, but in Pennsylvania and certainly and most obviously in New York".
Vice-President Joe Biden will attend a ceremony at the site of the World Trade Center towers in New York. There will be four moments of silence there - one for each of the times a plane crashed into the towers and also for the collapse of the towers. The names of more than 2,700 victims from the site will be read out by family members and volunteers who helped in the aftermath of the attacks. Ground Zero still remains a building site eight years on despite plans to build a permanent memorial, a museum and five new skyscrapers.
Colin Powell, the former Secretary of State, will speak at the site of the United Airlines Flight 93 crash where the names of the 40 people on board will be read out.
For the first time, the anniversary has been designated as a national day of service. Americans have been encouraged to contribute their labour and time in the memory of the victims.
Conservation projects, aid packages for soldiers and other volunteer work are some of the activities members of the public are taking part in. Some have expressed concern that this may divert the focus away from the act of remembrance.
Debra Burlingame, whose brother died at the Pentagon, told the Associated Press news agency, "I greatly fear at some point we'll transition to turning it into Earth Day where we go and plant trees and the remembrance part will become smaller."
About 1,000 US troops in Afghanistan marked the occasion with a 9.11km (5.5 mile) run at their Bagram base in Kabul. Two other bases also took part.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/6173651/911-US-remembers-on-September-11-anniversary.html
Comment:
Luckyshame {Μολών Λaβέ}
Sep 11, 2009 5:21 PM
WHY WERE NO FLAGS FLOWN AT 1/2 MASK!!
