by Today President Barack Obama and former President George W. Bush will stand together with New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg to remember those who lost their lives ten years ago. The World Trade Center terrorist attack, which took 2,752 lives, will be remembered at the original site as Former Mayor Rudolph Guiliani and Governors of New York and New Jersey join in remembrance.
A Moment to Reflect
As Bloomberg explained during a briefing on September 7th, it will be,
“A moment to reflect, to remember and to rededicate ourselves to the values and freedoms that made New York a target for evil. It’s a chance to take stock of just how far our city has come since that day in 2001.”
Moments of Silence
Today’s ceremonies will start with a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m., which was when the first jetliner crashed into the North Tower. Another moment of silence will come 17 minutes later, when the second plane hit the South Tower. The ceremony will also pause at 9:37, when the Pentagon was hit; at 9:59 when the South Tower fell; at 10:03 when the passengers on Flight 93 wrestled control of the plane and crashed it into a field in Pennsylvania; and at 10:28 when the North Tower fell.
Other Ceremonies
President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will then leave the New York ceremony to attend a service in Shanksville where Obama will lay a wreath to honor those who were on Flight 93. After visiting families there, Obama will go to the Pentagon for an invitation-only ceremony.
Rebuilding in the Face of Evil
Many say that the rebuilding occurring at the site location and surrounding area is, in itself, a testament to how we continue in the face of evil. The main focus of the revival is at 1 World Trade Center. They are building a $3.2 billion, 1776 foot building that will be 80 stories high. It is targeted for completion in 2013, said Christopher Ward of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. In addition, next year a museum should open at the site which will feature artifacts from the destroyed towers. It will be part of the $700 million commemoration of the attack.
