The first moment of silence in New York came at 8:46 a.m. ET, the moment American Airlines Flight 11 slammed into the World Trade Center's north tower. Another moment of silence was observed at 9:03 a.m., when United Airlines Flight 175 struck the south tower. At 9:59 a.m., the moment of silence commemorated when the south tower fell, and one at 10:29 a.m., when the north tower collapsed.
In Manhattan, where the family members of some of the 2,749 people killed when the planes crashed into the WTC gathered, sobs were the only thing to break the four moments of silence. As part of the observances, family members read the names of those killed.
A memorial service is planned in Shanksville, Pa., where United Flight 93 crashed into a field on 9/11. President George W. Bush and his wife Laura also are expected to attend that service, where a wreath will be laid in honor of those who lost their lives while attempting to stop the hijacking of that flight.
At the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Vice President Dick Cheney attended a morning ceremony. The president will lay another wreath there after returning to Washington from Shanksville. Across the country, flags flew at half-staff.
President Bush will address the nation tonight at 9 p.m. EST. He is expected to talk about what, in his opinion, the events of 9/11 taught the country about the world and how Sept. 11th reshaped the way in which we view what Press Secretary Tony Snow calls "the Islamist terrorist threat represented by bin Laden, Zarqawi and others." According to Snow, Bush is expected to remind us that as a nation, "we don't have the luxury of sitting around and waiting for them to hit us again."
