In their thoughts…

It was a day of pain and remembrance but also a day of hope as the attacks of September 11, 2001, were marked across the United States.

The focus was on the 2,977 people killed that day, as well as their families: mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, daughters and sons.

Ceremonies took place in New York, at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania - the locations where people lost their lives.

President Barack Obama, taking part in the service at New York's ground zero, quoted a psalm from the Bible. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble," he said. "Therefore, we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea."

The bereaved were the first to be allowed to visit the two cascading pools of water at ground zero, at the center of the nation's 9/11 memorial.

The pools share the same footprint as the World Trade Center towers, with the names of the 2,983 victims etched in bronze surrounding them.

In addition to those who died on September 11, the plaques carry the names of six people who died in the first attack on the World Trade Center in 1993. Relatives laid flowers, American flags and photographs of the dead at the scene.

Heroes and hope

In a traditional and very emotional ceremony, the names of the dead were read out aloud. Children were among those who, in a composed manner, took the microphone to read parts of the list and give their moving thoughts.

"Dad, I have your eyes and your smile, but I don't have you," said one. "I wish you could be here - to teach me how to drive, ask a girl out on a date, and see me graduate from high school," said another.

French-born American cellist Yo-Yo Ma played "Sarabande" from Bach's First Suite in G for Cello and Paul Simon sang his reflective and thoughtful hit, "The Sound of Silence."

Many relatives held aloft photographs of the dead or wore T-shirts with pictures of the deceased, many of whose remains were never found. The memorial now offers those bereaved a focus for their grief.

In Shanksville, Pennsylvania, US President Barack Obama laid a wreath at a monument that consists of 40 columns, in which the names of the men and women who were aboard Flight 93 are inscribed. Passengers stormed the cockpit of the plane to prevent the terrorists from using it to attack another target on the ground - thought to have been either the US Capitol or the White House.

At the reading of the victims' names in New York, special tribute was paid to the bravery of Flight 93 passenger Todd M. Beamer. Beamer, remembered as a hero, made the now legendary "Let's roll!" call to fellow passengers before they took control of the airplane.

Bravery of relatives praised

The victims at the Pentagon were also remembered, with the president laying a wreath there in the presence of relatives. Vice President Joe Biden addressed the bereaved in his speech.

"Your physical presence here today gives hope to thousands of Americans who under different circumstances are trying to come to grips with the losses that you had that they're going through. Because when they see - they see you here, you let them know that hope can grow from tragedy, and that there can be a second life."

In part, Biden's comments were referring to the families of US service personnel killed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan which followed the attacks on America. According to the US Defense Department, 6,229 servicemen and women have died in connection with the two wars.

The official memorial concluded with a Concert for Hope in the evening at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The event was originally supposed to have taken place at the Washington National Cathedral, but had to be relocated after the building was damaged by an earthquake in August and a further crane accident a few days ago.

Obama stresses national unity

In his speech, President Obama said 9/11 had been one of the darkest days in American history. While much had changed since then, he said, the country had managed to preserve its character and democracy had survived.

"These past 10 years underscore the bonds between all Americans. We have not succumbed to suspicion and mistrust. After 9/11, President [George] Bush made clear what we reaffirm today: the United States will never wage war against Islam or any religion. Immigrants come here from all parts of the globe," Obama said.

How much the world has changed since 9/11 could be seen in the massive security precautions that surrounded the memorial events in New York and Washington. Last week, authorities had received information about a possible terror attack on one of the two cities.

With fears of a car bombing, a wide area around ground zero was cordoned off and some roads were closed. At noon on Sunday, military jets were scrambled to escort two passenger flights because of security scares. However, the incidents reported on board the planes turned out to be false alarms.

What is clear is that there has been a change in perception. While attacks like those on 9/11 were once unimaginable, a minor incident onboard a plane is now enough to raise fears that America is, once again, under attack.

Author: Christina Bergmann / rc
Editor: Martin Kuebler