After the milestone 10th anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks last year, this year’s commemorations are shaping up to be much more demure affairs. At the Pentagon, today’s memorial service was a simple ceremony in which President Obama laid a wreath and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta gave brief remarks in memory of the 184 people who died when American Airlines Flight 77 flew into the side of the building.
The quiet memorial played out earlier this morning after the White House observed moments of silence for each of the hijacked airplanes that struck the World Trade Center towers in New York, the Pentagon and a field in Shanksville, Pa. Following this morning’s ceremony at the Pentagon, the president will spend time at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center visiting with members of the armed forces wounded in combat. Vice President Joe Biden is leading a delegation to Pennsylvania, where United Flight 93 crashed after a group of passengers attempted to fight off their hijackers.
As the day continues, there are several events planned for people who wish to remember the horrific scenes and commemorate the heroic acts that were carried out on September 11, 2001.
>> D.C.’s 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance Event begins at 11:30 a.m. at Freedom Plaza with community service projects benefitting veterans, emergency preparedness demonstrations and a volunteer recruitment drive. There will also be a smattering of food trucks and local musicians.
>> The Pentagon Memorial is closed to the public through noon for a private memorial service for those who survived the attack there as well as the family members of those who were killed on 9/11.
>> The U.S. Navy Memorial is having a ceremonial wreath laying at 4 p.m. followed by a book release event for In the Shadow of Greatness, a collection of essays by graduates of the U.S. Naval Academy’s class of 2002 who have served in the war in Afghanistan, the United States’ longest military conflict.
>> Washington National Cathedral is holding two more services today, with a worship service at noon (the first was at 8:45 a.m.) and a choral program at 5:30 p.m.
