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Americans are commemorating the 9/11 victims

As every September 11, since the past 16 years, people are commemorating the tragic event that left thousands of deaths and the entire nation shocked for several weeks. Photos, candles, tears, and prayers are being recorded in the World Trade Center, now known as Ground Zero after the jihadist-attack.

The act began today Monday with a moment of silence followed by bells, at the exact hour when a terrorist pilot struck a plane against the World Trade Center’s north tower: 8:46 a.m. Also, another ceremony was held at the Flight 93 National Memorial near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where officials stood to read the names of the passengers and crew members of that flight.

Ground Zero. Image credit: Loving New York

Relatives of the victims, survivors, rescuers, people that helped in any manner, and others, attended to both ceremonies to pray and offer their condolences to those who were killed in the terrorist attack. Some of them still can’t believe that it has already passed 16 years.

However, within all that sadness coming from the memories of those who could have much to live, there’s still hope and joy after such unification the country felt when the horrible event occurred. Some people attended for the first time and thanked the rescuers of that day.

“Our country came together that day. And it did not matter what color you were, or where you were from,” said a tearful Magaly Lemagne, who lost her brother David Prudencio Lemagne, a Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Officer, that day. She asked people to “stop for a moment and remember all the people who gave their lives that day… Maybe then we can put away our disagreements and become one country again.”

16 years have passed, and the feeling is still present

Around 1,000 people attended to the World Trade Center to read the names of nearly 3,000 people killed by a three suicidal-attacks that hit the trade center, the Pentagon, and a Pennsylvania field.

Vice President Mike Pence attended the ceremony at 9:45 a.m., the time when federal officials determined a rebellion within the group of passengers threatened by the jihadist terrorist-attackers, who then died when the airplane crashed in the field 60 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.

At 10:00 a.m., remembering the exact moment when one of the planes hit the Pentagon, relatives of the victims proceeded to read the names of those who died in the attack.

“I can let it get very difficult but I discipline myself not to do that,” former FDNY deputy chief Rich Alles said. “I lost several extremely close friends of mine, many friends, many colleagues. I probably knew close to three-quarters of the firefighters that got killed that day.”

Donald Trump attended the ceremony for the first time as the current US President, joined by the first lady Melania Trump. They both observed a moment of silence held at the World Trade, and later in the Pentagon. President Trump will participate in a 9/11 observance at the Pentagon later Wednesday morning.

Source: CBS 

Categories: U.S.
David Montes:
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