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| A woman wipes her eyes after reading the name of her brother, Bobby Hughes, as friends and relatives of the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks gather at the National September 11 Memorial at the World Trade Center site, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013, for a ceremony marking the 12th anniversary of the attacks in New York. |
NEW YORK (AP)
-- Life in lower Manhattan resembled any ordinary day on Wednesday as
workers rushed to their jobs in the muggy heat, but time stood still at
the World Trade Center site while families wept for loved ones who
perished in the terror attacks 12 years ago.
For
the families, the memories of that day are still vivid, the pain still
acute. Some who read the names of a beloved big brother or a cherished
daughter could hardly speak through their tears.
"Has
it really been 12 years? Or 12 days? Sometimes it feels the same," said
Michael Fox, speaking aloud to his brother, Jeffrey, who perished in
the south tower. "Sometimes I reach for the phone so I can call you, and
we can talk about our kids like we used to do every day."
On
the memorial plaza overlooking two reflecting pools in the imprint of
the twin towers, relatives recited the names of the nearly 3,000 people
who died when hijacked jets crashed into the towers, the Pentagon and in
a field near Shanksville, Pa. They also recognized the victims of the
1993 trade center bombing.
Bells tolled to mark the planes hitting the towers and the moments when the skyscrapers fell.
In
Washington, President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, Vice
President Joe Biden and wife Jill Biden walked out to the White House's
South Lawn for a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. - the time the first
plane struck the south tower in New York. Another jetliner struck the
Pentagon at 9:37 a.m.
"Our hearts still ache for the futures snatched away, the lives that might have been," Obama said.
A moment of silence was also held at the U.S. Capitol.
In
New York, loved ones milled around the memorial site, making rubbings
of names, putting flowers by the names of victims and weeping,
arm-in-arm. Former Gov. George Pataki, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie
and others were in attendance. As with last year, no politicians spoke.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg watched the ceremony for his final time in
office.
Carol Eckna recalled the contagious laugh of her son, Paul Robert Eckna, who was killed in the north tower.
"Just yesterday, you were 28," she said. "Today, you are 40. You are forever young. Dad and I are proud to be your parents."
The
anniversary arrived amid changes at the Flight 93 National Memorial in
Shanksville, where construction started Tuesday on a new visitor center.
On Wednesday, the families of the passengers and crew aboard United
Flight 93 recalled their loved ones as heroes for their unselfish and
quick actions. The plane was hijacked with the likely goal of crashing
it into the White House or Capitol, but passengers tried to overwhelm
the attackers and the plane crashed into the field. All aboard died.
"In
a period of 22 minutes, our loved ones made history," said Gordon Felt,
president of the Families of Flight 93, whose brother, Edward, was a
passenger.
Outside Washington, hundreds of
people gathered for a short, simple ceremony at an Arlington County
plaza three miles from the Pentagon. First responders from the county
were among the first on the scene that day.
Fire
Chief James Schwartz said ceremonies like Wednesday's - which featured
an honor guard and a moment of silence- serve as a reminder of why first
responders spend so much time preparing for disaster.
"I've
often said this has been the fastest 12 years of my life," Schwartz
said. "But if you are a surviving family member, I'd imagine this has
been the longest 12 years of your life, because you're waking up every
day with a hole in your heart."
Bloomberg also
spoke at a remembrance service for the 84 Port Authority employees
killed on Sept. 11 at St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, in the shadow
of where the World Trade Center once stood.
"On
that terrible day, we were united in prayer and compassion for all of
you who lost loved ones," the mayor said. "As we woke up this morning,
our first thoughts were with you as well."
Dozens
of family members and colleagues filled the pews as the Port Authority
Police Pipes and Drums played during the posting of colors.
Around
the world, thousands of volunteers pledged to do good deeds, honoring
an anniversary that was designated a National Day of Service and
Remembrance in 2009.
By next year's
anniversary, a 9/11 museum is expected to be open beneath the memorial
plaza in New York City. While the memorial honors those killed, the
museum is intended to present a broader picture, including the
experiences of survivors and first responders.
"As things evolve in the future, the focus on the remembrance is going to stay sacrosanct," memorial President Joe Daniels said.
Douglas
Hamatie, whose 31-year-old cousin Robert Horohoe worked for Cantor
Fitzgerald and died on 9/11, drew applause from the crowd when he
declared that the day should become a national holiday.
"The
kids today, they know when the next iPhone's coming out, and they know
when the next Justin Bieber concert is, but they don't know enough about
9/11," he said. "So let's change that, please."
The
organizers have said they will always keep the focus on the families,
and that was evident this year as relatives gathered on the tree-laden
plaza, where a smaller crowd gathered - only friends and family of the
victims were allowed.
Vicki Tureski, who lost
her brother-in-law on Sept. 11, said the victims' families will help
each other through the years to come.
"Strangers
who are now friends, friends who are now family, family who pull us to
our feet each day," she said. "I promise to continue to keep you in my
prayers as we go through decade two of carrying the tragedy of 9/11 with
us."
