Obama Observes Moment of Silence at White House

WASHINGTON — The nation’s capital commemorated the attacks of Sept. 11, with President Obama joining members of the White House staff for a moment of silence marking the hour when a hijacked plane struck the Pentagon, as another plane flying toward the capital crashed in a Pennsylvania field and two hit the World Trade Center towers.



Mr. Obama is scheduled to speak later on Friday morning at a ceremony at the Pentagon, where American Airlines Flight 77, hijacked by five terrorists after taking off from Dulles International Airport bound for Los Angeles, crashed at 9:37 a.m.

An outdoor memorial now marks the spot with 184 benches, each representing one victim of the attack — 59 on the plane, and 125 on the ground.

It had been raining heavily until just before President and Mrs. Obama walked out onto the South Lawn of the White House. A bell sounded three solemn chimes as they bowed their heads.

Dressed in black, they held their hands to their hearts while a bugler sounded Taps.

U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama leave a ceremony marking the eighth anniversary of the September 11 attacks on New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania, on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, September 11, 2009.


The president took a deep breath before he and Mrs. Obama turned silently and walked back into the White House. The staff stood silently by for a few moments more. Then the rain resumed.

Several other remembrances are scheduled after the Pentagon event at 9:30 a.m. At noon, there is a service at the Washington National Cathedral, and a number of organizations are bringing together students and others for a day of volunteer service.

NYTimes