Fallen Firefighter Heroes Honored at St. Patrick Cathedral

Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.

A tear-soaked crowd thronged St. Patrick's Cathedral yesterday to pay tribute to the 343 members of the FDNY who died at the World Trade Center - heroes who never flinched as they ran toward unthinkable danger.

The decade that has passed since the Fire Department's darkest day has done nothing to dull the memories of those lost, according to the speakers at the emotional afternoon service.

"This is an awfully tough week for the FDNY," said Mayor Bloomberg. "It's an awfully tough week for all of us."

"The emotions keep rushing back along with so many memories and so many stories," Bloomberg said. "We'll remember the brave 343. We'll honor them. We salute them."

An image of each firefighter killed that fateful morning was flashed on a video screen on the altar as their loved ones dabbed at tears.

"I really wish I could have met you," said 9-year-old Patrick Lyons, born just weeks after the death of his firefighter father, who shared his name.

"As I get older, everyone says I walk like you," said Patrick, who read a letter to his dad. "I play flag football like you did, and I play the same position you did, quarterback."

An honor guard of firefighters carrying American flags solemnly filed down the aisle at St. Patrick's to begin the memorial service, presided over by Archbishop Timothy Dolan.

Fire Commissioner Salvatore Cassano, who was nearly killed during the attacks, spoke movingly about how the FDNY has honored those lost a decade ago.

"Out of the depths of this tragedy, we rebuilt the greatest fire department in the world," said Cassano.

The challenges for the FDNY did not end in the moments after the towers fell, killing the 343 Bravest and many of the department's top leaders.

Hundreds of firefighters worked for weeks at the smoldering World Trade Center site, and the exposure to the toxins has killed 55 FDNY members - and made scores more ill. "The world may have called them 'Brave,'" said Cassano, "but we called it doing our job."

Hundreds of firefighters packed the midtown house of worship, and dozens more - many from departments around the globe - stood outside to pay their respects.

"We're here to show our support for our brothers in New York," said Steve Joudrey, 52, of London, Ontario.

Amid prayers that no one be harmed during the 10th anniversary of the attacks, a hushed silence fell over the crowd as Ashley Fodor remembered her slain father, Michael.

"To us, Dad was untouchable, a constant in our lives," she said, "but he was taken away, lost in a city he loved, buried under buildings he had admired, doing his job with honor and vigor."

The children of firefighters who were killed then each lit a candle to conclude the Mass, moments before the bagpipes blared and the flags marched out of the cathedral again.

"That roll call, my friends, is nothing less than a litany of saints," said Dolan.

"Those firefighters were and you firefighters are what the Bible calls prophets. You go against everything that degrades human life.

Later yesterday, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly attended a memorial service honoring slain officers at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn. "We know that the city, the world, owes you a debt that we can never repay," Kelly said.

With Clare Trapasso

jlemire@nydailynews.com
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/09/10/2011-09-10_343_stars_still_shining_fallen_bravest_honored_during_st_pats_mass.html

Police Search Trucks in New York City on Terror Threat

New York police increased security, including vehicle checkpoints in midtown Manhattan and armed guards in front of the Office of Emergency Management, after receiving credible information that terrorists may be plotting an attack in the city around the Sept. 11 anniversary.

Police cruisers took up positions on a midtown block of Lexington Avenue this morning as officers stopped trucks and other vehicles for inspection. Drivers were made to open the storage spaces of delivery trucks for police. In Brooklyn, U.S. marshals armed with machine guns guarded the federal courthouse and increased security was observed in front of the nearby city emergency management office.

“We have already had a full complement of people working shifts because of the Sept. 11 anniversary prior to this,” said Jim Margolin, a spokesman for the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New York office. “We are taking the logical investigative measures to assess this threat.”

The threat concerns a possible al-Qaeda-sponsored attack targeting New York or Washington on or near the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attack, said a U.S. official, who wasn’t authorized to discuss the matter publicly. The official said the intelligence concerns a possible vehicle-borne attack, perhaps on a transportation hub or bottleneck, and cautioned that the options may be broader than a car or truck bombing.

Interest in Anniversaries
“As we know from the intelligence gathered from the Osama bin Laden raid, al-Qaeda has shown an interest in important dates and anniversaries, such as 9/11,” Janice Fedarcyk, the FBI’s assistant director in charge of the New York office, said at a press conference yesterday. “In this instance, it’s accurate that there is specific, credible but unconfirmed information. We take all threats reported seriously and have taken and will continue to take all steps necessary to mitigate all threats as they arise.”

New Jersey’s Director of Homeland Security Charles McKenna said the threat involves two foreigners traveling into the U.S., where they may join a third party who is already here to carry out the attack. McKenna said New Jersey officials are concerned that as New York and Washington are “hardened targets,” the would-be attackers may turn to New Jersey as a back-up option.

McKenna said the state has increased security, though he declined to specify what steps have been taken.

No Surprise
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, speaking at a meeting of administration officials in Princeton, said people should not alter their plans and lives.

“This is nothing that should come to folks as any surprise nor is it something that should cause any panic,” Christie said. “The fact is that we live in a different world.”

On Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four airliners. Two were flown into the twin World Trade Center towers in New York, destroying them; a third hit the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia; and one crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania after passengers attacked the hijackers. More than 3,000 people were killed.

New York police have stopped at least 13 terrorist attacks since 2001, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said. While the killing of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has helped reduce the threat, the mayor said, “The one thing we know is the terrorists have not gone away.”

Foiled Plot
In February 2010, Colorado resident Najibullah Zazi pleaded guilty in Brooklyn federal court to a plot to detonate bombs on New York subways around the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

The Brooklyn federal courthouse has supplemented its usual security, said James Elcik, supervisor deputy U.S. marshal.

“We’re here to protect the building, and more importantly the people in it around the anniversary of 9/11 given the non- specific threat,” Elcik said, standing next to an armed guard on Adams Street, where tourists and bicyclists entered the pedestrian path over Brooklyn Bridge.

Elcik said it hadn’t been decided whether the extra security would also be in place Monday and throughout next week.

“The safety of our federal judiciary and security in the U.S. courthouses continue to be a top priority of the U.S. Marshals Service,” said Roland Ubaldo, a spokesman for Joseph Guccione, the U.S. Marshal of the Southern District of New York. “We take all threats reported seriously and we have taken and will continue to take all steps necessary to mitigate any threats that arise.”

Police Stand Guard
At the subway station in the Port Authority bus terminal at 42nd Street, two police officers stood guard at the turnstiles while two others patrolled the platform. Police officers in a group of four stood on the platform at Broadway and Murray streets in Lower Manhattan giving directions to tourists making their way to and from Ground Zero four blocks south.

“We have threats all the time,” Bloomberg said today during his weekly appearance on WOR radio, after having taken the subway to City Hall from his Upper East Side home. “Each time we increase our security, which obviously we had done for this. Are we increasing a little more? Yes, we’re increasing a little more but there’s a limit to how much you can have, just because you can’t have a cop on every corner. But remember, a lot of the precautions we take, you don’t see.”

Specific Threat
New York Republican Congressman Peter King, who heads the House Homeland Security Committee, said he was briefed on the threat, which he said was specific and credible.

“All appropriate agencies, the federal government, and state officials and local officials as well, are tracking it down to see if it is real, and if so, how do we stop it,” King said.

Another intelligence official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said the information hasn’t been fully vetted.

Terrorists view the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks as an opportunity to strike again, the FBI’s Fedarcyk said.

The information of a new plot was specific and credible, though not corroborated, she said at a press conference yesterday with Bloomberg.

In the Washington metropolitan area today, Montgomery County, Maryland, police patrolled the Silver Spring and Forest Glen Metro platforms, north of the city.

Extend Shifts
New York police officers will extend their shifts by four hours at least through Sept. 12, said Commissioner Ray Kelly. Police will increase vehicle checks and monitoring of bridges and tunnels, Kelly said. Police will also increase baggage screenings in subways, patrol outside places of worship and government buildings and conduct bomb sweeps of public garages.

“We will deploy quick-reaction teams consisting of heavily armored officers,” Kelly said.

“Sky Watch” towers will be manned, license plate readers monitored and all manhole covers inspected and sealed. City landmarks, including Grand Central Terminal and Pennsylvania Station, will have heightened security as well as other major events Sunday, including the U.S. Open tennis tournament in Queens.

A heavily guarded “frozen zone” is being created from West Street to Broadway and Murray to Albany streets in Lower Manhattan. Several streets in the area will be closed during the weekend, including northbound West Street from Battery Place to Murray Street and southbound West Street from Battery Place to Chambers Street. Church Street between Rector and Barclay streets will be closed 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Bomb Technicians
To assist the police, the FBI will mobilize specialized teams, including special agents, bomb technicians and SWAT and hazardous materials crews.

Richard Adamonis, a NYSE Euronext spokesman, declined to comment on security measure for the stock exchange on Wall Street.

President Barack Obama, who is scheduled to attend ceremonies at Ground Zero on Sept. 11 with former President George W. Bush, was briefed on the threat today by National Security Adviser Tom Donilon, White House counterterrorism adviser John Brennan, and Deputy National Security Adviser Denis McDonough before leaving for a speech in Richmond, Virginia, White House press secretary Jay Carney said.

Obama directed counter-terrorism officials to redouble their efforts, which had already been increased in advance of the Sept. 11 anniversary, Carney said.

The first intelligence official said the report is credible largely because of al-Qaeda’s longstanding interest in important anniversaries and symbolic targets.

Intense Focus
“Sometimes this reporting is credible and warrants intense focus,” Matt Chandler, a U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesman, said in a statement. “Other times it lacks credibility and is highly unlikely to be reflective of real plots under way.”

“Regardless, we take all threat reporting seriously, and we have taken, and will continue to take all steps necessary to mitigate any threats that arise,” Chandler said.

Attorney General Eric Holder said in May that intelligence retrieved from the compound in Pakistan where bin Laden was killed suggested that he wanted to harm people around the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

The mayor is the founder and majority owner of Bloomberg News parent Bloomberg LP.

To contact the reporters on this story: Henry Goldman in New York at hgoldman@bloomberg.net; Tiffany Kary in Brooklyn at tkary@bloomberg.net; Patricia Hurtado in New York pathurado@bloomberg.net.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-09/-credible-terrorist-threats-received-new-york-mayor-bloomberg-says.html
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Mark Tannenbaum at mtannen@bloomberg.net; Michael Hytha mhytha@bloomberg.net

Alert -Breaking News- 'Credible' Terrorist Threat

Federal authorities are investigating a possible terrorist threat to the United States, just days before the tenth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, according to Fox News.

ABC News has more details. Intelligence officials told ABC that three individuals entered the country with the intent of launching a 'vehicle-borne attack' against New York or Washington D.C., around the anniversary of 9/11.

The suspected terrorists may have originated from Afghanistan, according to a senior official.

The threat -- described as “specific" and "credible" -- has not yet been confirmed, reports NBC.

A senior administration official also told Fox that President Obama has been briefed on the threat. Some members of Congress have also been briefed on the unconfirmed threat, reports CNN.

According to NBC, who spoke with two U.S. officials, discussions are under way about whether the threat warning status should be raised.

More from HuffPost reporter Andrea Stone:

Matthew Chandler, spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security, confirmed to The Huffington Post that there is a "specific, credible but unconfirmed threat" of an attack on 9/11.
Based on intelligence gathered from the Osama bin Laden) raid in May, al Qaeda "has shown an interest in important dates and anniversaries, such as 9/11," he said. "As we always do before important dates like the anniversary of 9/11, we will undoubtedly get more reporting in the coming days. Sometimes this reporting is credible and warrants intense focus, other times it lacks credibility and is highly unlikely to be reflective of real plots underway.

"Regardless, we take all threat reporting seriously, and we have taken, and will continue to take all steps necessary to mitigate any threats that arise. We continue to ask the American people to remain vigilant as we head into the weekend.”


www.huffingtonpost.com

Thousandsof NYPD officers to secure Ground Zero for Anniversary

Associated Press
NEW YORK — There are no specific terror threats against New York City but the NYPD still plans a major show of force for 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said Wednesday that police will form a frozen zone around the World Trade Center site. They'll flood it with thousands of extra officers for the Sunday observance there with President Barack Obama and former President George W. Bush in attendance.

The beefed up security also will include hundreds of surveillance cameras trained on the site.

The commissioner said the department will deploy "quick strike reaction forces" to respond to potential threats outside lower Manhattan. The teams include officers in heavy armor, bomb squad technicians and hostage negotiators.

New Yorkers also will see extra subway patrols.

http://online.wsj.com/article/AP3798ef60be654ec188ae3aead0df894d.html

First Reponders at Ground Zero not Covered For Cancer Treatment

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Ralph and Barbara Geidel have spent close to $100,000 on his medical treatment since 2003, when the former fireman and 9/11 first responder was first diagnosed with tongue and neck cancer.



"We've already used up all of our savings," said his wife, Barbara. "We're now living paycheck to paycheck."



The Geidels were hoping to finally get some health insurance help with their mounting medical bills, when President Obama earlier this year signed into law the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.



The Zadroga Act, also known as the First Responders Bill, sets aside $1.5 billion in federal and New York City funds to cover all costs for treating certain 9/11-related illnesses, and $2.7 billion in compensation for victims who suffered economic hardship as a result of the attacks.



But the law hasn't done a thing for the Geidels when it comes to filling the health insurance gap, because cancer is not one of the medical conditions currently approved to be covered by the fund.



Illnesses that are eligible for full coverage include asthma, lung disease, chronic cough syndrome, laryngitis, sleep apnea, sinusitis, digestive disorders, depression, post traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse.



According to the Centers for Disease Control, which is administering the fund, there isn't enough scientific evidence linking cancer in first responders to their exposure to toxic substances from the 9/11 attacks.



The fund took effect on July 1, and since then it has received 86 applications, enrolled 25 people and paid out just over $1 million dollars in claims.



"This bill was rushed. It should have included coverage for cancer," said Barbara Geidel, expressing a view widely held by cancer stricken first responders and their families.



New research

A new study released Thursday by The Lancet medical journal examines the link between the incidence of cancer and exposure to 9/11 related substances, and seems to support her point.



It tracked 9,853 firefighters and found that those who were exposed to substances at Ground Zero are 19% more likely to develop cancer than firefighters who were not exposed.



Firefighters responding to 9/11 at increased cancer risk

Ralph Geidel, 54, retired from the FDNY in 1985 and moved to California to mine for gold. It was there that he met his wife Barbara. He returned to New York on Sept. 14, 2001, to rejoin his former unit Rescue Co. 1 and search for his brother Gary, also a firefighter who was in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11.



He's currently on a cross-country trip from California to Ground Zero on his Harley-Davidson, which is his way to honor his brother and find closure.



Ralph worked 36 straight hours when he first got to New York three days after 9/11, and then for months after that at Ground Zero.



Hounded by bill collectors

He has health insurance through the FDNY. But after his cancer diagnosis, he returned to California and was treated by specialists who were out of network and therefore not covered by his insurance.



That meant the Geidels had to pay much more out of pocket for Ralph's cancer treatments, including radiation and surgeries.



Although his doctors haven't clearly established the link between exposure to 9/11 toxins and his cancer, Barbara said one specialist did tell the couple that the toxins were probably what caused his type of cancer to show up at a much younger age than it typically does.



"His oncologist said this type of cancer is seen in a 60 -70 year old who's a heavy smoker and drinker," she said, adding that her husband was diagnosed at 44 and is neither a heavy drinker or smoker



Look, we're tired of begging for help. We're hounded by bill collectors. We're not asking for a handout. We're asking for a hand," said Barbara.



It's a different story for Chris Doran, 42, a first responder and former New York City police officer who called the Zadroga Act a huge relief.



In the 10 years since the terror attacks, Doran has suffered many sleepless nights thanks to his injuries and his medical bills.



But now, he says, "the government is paying for all of my therapy and medications."



Prior to the Zadroga Act, Doran was struggling to pay the steep out-of-pocket costs for treating post-traumatic stress disorder and a sinus condition so severe that it has required five sinus operations.



Companies in the Twin Towers: Before and after

"I went there on Sept. 14 but I didn't last very long," said Doran. After 14 hours at Ground Zero, his blood pressure shot up and he couldn't breathe.



He didn't return to Ground Zero after that. Three years later, Doran retired from the New York Police Department, moved to Texas and hasn't worked since.



Fortunately, Doran continued to get health insurance through the NYPD. But because his income dropped substantially after retiring, he too struggled to pay his out-of-pocket medical costs.



"I was paying $7,000 a year for medications. I had to file for bankruptcy," he said. Doran has also attempted suicide twice.



Under the Zadroga Act, all of Doran's medical costs will be paid for by the government because his illnesses are approved for coverage by the fund.



The bill isn't perfect, said John Feal, a first responder who founded the first responder advocacy group Feal Good Foundation in 2005, but at least it's a start.



"When this bill passed, my first words were 'This is good,'" he said. "But I give it a six out of 10."



Feal hopes that an amendment is made to the Act soon to cover cancer, and the agency has said it will continue to review its policy on cancer coverage as new research and findings are released. Such a review is expected early to mid-2012.



"These first responders are heroic people who are financially devastated because of their illnesses," he said.



First Published: September 2, 2011: 5:55 AM ET

http://money.cnn.com/2011/09/02/news/economy/911_health_insurance/index.htm

50 TV Programs dedicated to 9/11 Anniversary

The 10th anniversary of 9/11 is the focus of stepped-up media coverage, with more than 50 programs dedicated to the event. What to watch? Here's our channel-by-channel guide.



MNN.COM›Lifestyle›Arts & Culture

Remembering 9/11: A guide to the 10th anniversary on TV

The 10th anniversary of 9/11 is the focus of stepped-up media coverage, with more than 50 programs dedicated to the event. What to watch? Here's our channel-by-channel guide.

By Gerri MillerWed, Aug 24 2011 at 10:51 AM EST



Every year since 2001, networks and news organizations have commemorated the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks with specials and documentaries, dramas and retrospectives. This year, the 10th anniversary of the Al Qaeda-perpetrated tragedy that claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pa., is the focus of stepped-up media coverage, with more than 50 programs dedicated to the event. What to watch? We help you sort them out with this channel-by-channel guide.



ABC

Beginning at 8 AM ET on Sept. 11, Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos anchor three hours of live coverage, “9/11: America Remembers Ten Years Later.” That night, “Primetime” presents the special edition “Remembrance and Renewal—10 Years After the 9/11 Attacks” (Sept. 11, 10 p.m.).



CBS

Six hours of coverage on the anniversary includes the special "9/11: America Remembers," anchored by Scott Pelley from Ground Zero (8 a.m. EST), followed by "Face the Nation" from the same location. An all-9/11 edition of "60 Minutes" airs that night (7 p.m.) followed by "9/11: Ten Years Later." "The Early Show" and "CBS Evening News" will emanate from Ground Zero all weekend.



NBC

Eleven of the 3,000 kids who lost a parent in the attacks speak out in "Children of 9/11," which follows a year in their lives (Sept. 5, 10 p.m.). Tom Brokaw hosts a two-hour 9/11 "Dateline" (Sept. 8, 9 p.m.). Incorporating the three official memorial ceremonies, "America Remembers" will air the morning of Sept. 11 (8 a.m. EDT/5 a.m. PDT), and that evening Brian Williams anchors "NBC Nightly News" from Ground Zero (6:30 p.m.).

MNN.COM›Lifestyle›Arts & Culture

Remembering 9/11: A guide to the 10th anniversary on TV

The 10th anniversary of 9/11 is the focus of stepped-up media coverage, with more than 50 programs dedicated to the event. What to watch? Here's our channel-by-channel guide.

By Gerri MillerWed, Aug 24 2011 at 10:51 AM EST



NEVER FORGET: Firefighters display a flag at the Pentagon on Sept. 12, 2001. (Photo: Flickr)

Every year since 2001, networks and news organizations have commemorated the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks with specials and documentaries, dramas and retrospectives. This year, the 10th anniversary of the Al Qaeda-perpetrated tragedy that claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pa., is the focus of stepped-up media coverage, with more than 50 programs dedicated to the event. What to watch? We help you sort them out with this channel-by-channel guide.



ABC

Beginning at 8 AM ET on Sept. 11, Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos anchor three hours of live coverage, “9/11: America Remembers Ten Years Later.” That night, “Primetime” presents the special edition “Remembrance and Renewal—10 Years After the 9/11 Attacks” (Sept. 11, 10 p.m.).



CBS

Six hours of coverage on the anniversary includes the special "9/11: America Remembers," anchored by Scott Pelley from Ground Zero (8 a.m. EST), followed by "Face the Nation" from the same location. An all-9/11 edition of "60 Minutes" airs that night (7 p.m.) followed by "9/11: Ten Years Later." "The Early Show" and "CBS Evening News" will emanate from Ground Zero all weekend.



NBC

Eleven of the 3,000 kids who lost a parent in the attacks speak out in "Children of 9/11," which follows a year in their lives (Sept. 5, 10 p.m.). Tom Brokaw hosts a two-hour 9/11 "Dateline" (Sept. 8, 9 p.m.). Incorporating the three official memorial ceremonies, "America Remembers" will air the morning of Sept. 11 (8 a.m. EDT/5 a.m. PDT), and that evening Brian Williams anchors "NBC Nightly News" from Ground Zero (6:30 p.m.).







PBS

Public broadcasting's extensive slate of 9/11 programming includes a "Frontline" portrait of FBI counterterrorism agent turned World Trade Center security chief — and victim — John O'Neill, called "The Man Who Knew" (Aug. 30, 9 p.m.), an examination of anti-terrorism operations, "Top Secret America" (Sept. 6, 9 p.m.), and "Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero," which addresses spiritual questions (Sept. 7, 10 p.m.). On "Nova," "Engineering Ground Zero" (above) follows the construction of One World Trade Center and the September 11 Memorial and Museum (Sept. 7, 9 p.m.), and on the anniversary date, "PBS Newshour" presents "America Remembers 9/11," examining the significance of the day throughout the nation (8 p.m.), followed by "Great Performances: The New York Philharmonic 10th Anniversary Concert for 9/11," a performance of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection," taped at Lincoln Center.



HBO

Rebroadcasts of the documentaries "Nine Innings From Ground Zero," focusing on the how the Yankees rallied New Yorkers during the post-9/11 World Series, and "In Memoriam: New York City 9/11/01," released on the one-year anniversary, will air several times over the weekend of Sept. 11.



FX

"Rescue Me," the drama series about New York firemen in the aftermath of 9/11 comes full circle in a series finale that bids farewell to a fallen comrade and pays tribute to the heroic FDNY. (Sept. 7, 10 p.m.)



HISTORY CHANNEL

Frantic phone messages and final goodbyes made moments before the towers fell are the basis of "Voices From Inside the Towers" (Sept. 10, 9 p.m.). Focusing on the tragedy's aftermath via archival footage, "9/11: The Days After", will air commercial-free (Sept. 10, 9 p.m.). It's from the filmmakers of the Emmy-winning "102 Minutes that Changed America," which will be simulcast on History, A&E and in 150 countries starting at 8:46 a.m. EST on Sept. 11 — the moment of the first impact at One World Trade Center. "Making the 9/11 Memorial" documents the creation of the "Reflecting Absence" memorial leading up to its unveiling (Sept. 11, 8 p.m.).





MNN.COM›Lifestyle›Arts & Culture

Remembering 9/11: A guide to the 10th anniversary on TV

The 10th anniversary of 9/11 is the focus of stepped-up media coverage, with more than 50 programs dedicated to the event. What to watch? Here's our channel-by-channel guide.

By Gerri MillerWed, Aug 24 2011 at 10:51 AM EST



NEVER FORGET: Firefighters display a flag at the Pentagon on Sept. 12, 2001. (Photo: Flickr)

Every year since 2001, networks and news organizations have commemorated the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks with specials and documentaries, dramas and retrospectives. This year, the 10th anniversary of the Al Qaeda-perpetrated tragedy that claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pa., is the focus of stepped-up media coverage, with more than 50 programs dedicated to the event. What to watch? We help you sort them out with this channel-by-channel guide.



ABC

Beginning at 8 AM ET on Sept. 11, Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos anchor three hours of live coverage, “9/11: America Remembers Ten Years Later.” That night, “Primetime” presents the special edition “Remembrance and Renewal—10 Years After the 9/11 Attacks” (Sept. 11, 10 p.m.).



CBS

Six hours of coverage on the anniversary includes the special "9/11: America Remembers," anchored by Scott Pelley from Ground Zero (8 a.m. EST), followed by "Face the Nation" from the same location. An all-9/11 edition of "60 Minutes" airs that night (7 p.m.) followed by "9/11: Ten Years Later." "The Early Show" and "CBS Evening News" will emanate from Ground Zero all weekend.



NBC

Eleven of the 3,000 kids who lost a parent in the attacks speak out in "Children of 9/11," which follows a year in their lives (Sept. 5, 10 p.m.). Tom Brokaw hosts a two-hour 9/11 "Dateline" (Sept. 8, 9 p.m.). Incorporating the three official memorial ceremonies, "America Remembers" will air the morning of Sept. 11 (8 a.m. EDT/5 a.m. PDT), and that evening Brian Williams anchors "NBC Nightly News" from Ground Zero (6:30 p.m.).







PBS

Public broadcasting's extensive slate of 9/11 programming includes a "Frontline" portrait of FBI counterterrorism agent turned World Trade Center security chief — and victim — John O'Neill, called "The Man Who Knew" (Aug. 30, 9 p.m.), an examination of anti-terrorism operations, "Top Secret America" (Sept. 6, 9 p.m.), and "Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero," which addresses spiritual questions (Sept. 7, 10 p.m.). On "Nova," "Engineering Ground Zero" (above) follows the construction of One World Trade Center and the September 11 Memorial and Museum (Sept. 7, 9 p.m.), and on the anniversary date, "PBS Newshour" presents "America Remembers 9/11," examining the significance of the day throughout the nation (8 p.m.), followed by "Great Performances: The New York Philharmonic 10th Anniversary Concert for 9/11," a performance of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection," taped at Lincoln Center.



HBO

Rebroadcasts of the documentaries "Nine Innings From Ground Zero," focusing on the how the Yankees rallied New Yorkers during the post-9/11 World Series, and "In Memoriam: New York City 9/11/01," released on the one-year anniversary, will air several times over the weekend of Sept. 11.



FX

"Rescue Me," the drama series about New York firemen in the aftermath of 9/11 comes full circle in a series finale that bids farewell to a fallen comrade and pays tribute to the heroic FDNY. (Sept. 7, 10 p.m.)



HISTORY CHANNEL

Frantic phone messages and final goodbyes made moments before the towers fell are the basis of "Voices From Inside the Towers" (Sept. 10, 9 p.m.). Focusing on the tragedy's aftermath via archival footage, "9/11: The Days After", will air commercial-free (Sept. 10, 9 p.m.). It's from the filmmakers of the Emmy-winning "102 Minutes that Changed America," which will be simulcast on History, A&E and in 150 countries starting at 8:46 a.m. EST on Sept. 11 — the moment of the first impact at One World Trade Center. "Making the 9/11 Memorial" documents the creation of the "Reflecting Absence" memorial leading up to its unveiling (Sept. 11, 8 p.m.).







NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

Devoting a week of prime time to the anniversary starting Aug. 28, Nat Geo will present rebroadcasts with updated footage and new specials including "Inside 9/11: The War Continues," examining terrorism, Al-Qaeda, and the killing of Osama Bin Laden (Aug. 28, 9 p.m.), "George W. Bush: The 9/11 Interview," the most in-depth interview the former president has ever given on the subject (Aug. 28, 10 p.m.), "CIA Confidential: 9/11 Mastermind," about the pursuit of terrorist Khalid Sheik Mohammed (Aug. 29, 10 p.m.), and "9/11: Where Were You?" following people who made critical decisions during the crisis (Aug. 30, 10 p.m.).



DISCOVERY

Produced by Steven Spielberg, the six-hour event "Rising: Rebuilding Ground Zero" chronicles the massive effort that represents the reclamation and renaissance of Lower Manhattan, presented commercial-free Aug. 25-Sept. 1 (8-11 p.m. each night).



A&E

Photographer Andrea Booher tracks down the people she photographed that fateful day in "Portraits From Ground Zero," a commercial-free world premiere (Sept. 10, 10 p.m.).



NICKELODEON

"Nick News with Linda Ellerbee: 'What Happened?: The Story of September 11, 2001'" answers kids' questions and helps them understand the world-changing event (Sept. 1, 9 p.m.).



OWN

Twins who lost a sibling on 9/11 tell their stories in "Twins of the Twin Towers" (Sept. 11, 9 p.m.) and "From the Ground Up" focuses on the widows of firefighters (Sept. 11, 10:15 p.m.).



TLC

"9/11: Heroes of the 88th Floor" recounts the selfless bravery of two men who died saving others in the Twin Towers (Sept. 4, 9 p.m.).

INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY

"ID Investigates: 9/11 Crime Scene Investigators" (above) profiles the NYPD's Crime Scene Unit and its search for survivors and evidence at Ground Zero in the aftermath of the WTC attack (Sept. 4, 9 p.m.).



SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL

A chronological account of the first 18 hours, "9/11: Day that Changed the World" includes interviews with former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Vice President Dick Cheney, and former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld (Sept. 5, 8 & 11 p.m.; Sept. 6, 5 p.m.). Personal objects from victims and survivors represent the bigger picture in "9/11: Stories in Fragments" (Sept. 5, 9:35 p.m.; Sept. 6, 12:35 a.m., 8 p.m.).



ANIMAL PLANET

A 9/11-themed edition of the series "Saved" profiles two New York families impacted by the attacks whose pets helped them deal with their loss (Sept. 7, 9 p.m.).



SHOWTIME

Grounded in New York on 9/11, Paul McCartney (above) thought the best way to help was to stage a benefit concert, the preparation for which — including rehearsals — and portions of the concert itself, are the basis of the documentary "The Love We Make" (Sept. 10, 9 p.m.). Juxtaposed against time-lapse images of the rebuilding of Ground Zero, "Rebirth" movingly tracks five people — a badly burned survivor and four who lost loved ones — in yearly interviews that show how it's possible to heal despite overwhelming loss (Sept. 11, 9 p.m.).



CNN

As noted in the 9/11 Commission Report, eight people who played small but significant roles that day are the subject of "Footnotes of 9/11" (Sept. 6, 11 p.m.). Medical expert Sanjay Gupta reports on the health conditions affecting Ground Zero responders in "Terror in the Dust" (Sept. 7, 11 p.m.) and Soledad O'Brien focuses on female rescue workers in "Beyond Bravery: The Women of 9/11" (Sept. 8, 11 p.m.). "Beyond 9/11: Portraits of Resilience" interweaves photographs and interviews with officials, survivors and first responders (Sept. 9, 11 p.m.).



USA

Oscar winner Melissa Leo (above) plays a flight attendant reluctantly charged with the care of an unaccompanied Pakistani-American boy after they're grounded en route from New York to L.A. on the morning of 9/11 in "The Space Between," airing commercial-free on Sept. 11 (9 p.m.), followed by the Oscar-winning short documentary "Twin Towers," which follows an elite NYPD rescue unit that was to be the subject of a reality series before fate intervened, claiming many of the members' lives.



BIO CHANNEL

"When Pop Culture Saved America" explains how entertainers buoyed and helped heal the nation in the aftermath of 9/11 (Sept. 5, 8 p.m.). "I Survived 9/11" interviews those who escaped death that day (Sept. 6, 8 p.m.) and "Beyond: Messages From 9/11" profiles people who claim to have received messages from deceased loved ones (Sept. 10, 10 p.m.).



FOX NEWS CHANNEL

In "Freedom Rising with Shepard Smith," the anchor focuses on the rebuilding of Ground Zero and the people making it happen (Sept. 2, 9 p.m.). The channel presents all-day coverage of the anniversary on Sept. 11 starting with a two-hour program at 8 a.m. EDT, simulcast on Fox.



MSNBC

Richard Engel and Rachel Maddow report on the decade since 9/11 in "Day of Destruction — Decade of War" (Sept. 1, 9 p.m., repeating Sept. 9, 10, 11). "On Native Soil" focuses on the 9/11 Commissions report (Sept. 10, 3 p.m.; Sept 11, 9 p.m.) and "9/11: In Our Own Words" blends footage and commentary from the reporters that covered the events of the day (Sept. 11, 8 p.m.).



CNBC

A special edition of "American Greed" entitled "9/11 Fraud" focuses on those who seek to illegally profit from tragedy (Sept. 7, 9 p.m.) and on Sept. 10 "The Suze Orman Show" discusses the money lessons of 9/11 (9 p.m., 12 a.m.).





http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/stories/remembering-911-a-guide-to-the-10th-anniversary-on-tv

Al-Qaeda down but not out

By David Ignatius, Published: August 23

Government officials refer to it blandly as the “SSE,” or Sensitive Site Exploitation. That’s their oblique term for the extraordinary cache of evidence that was carried away from Osama bin Laden’s compound the night the al-Qaeda leader was killed.



With the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks a few weeks away, it’s possible to use this evidence to sketch a vivid portrait of al-Qaeda, drawing on material contained in more than 100 computer storage devices, including thumb drives, DVDs and CDs, and more than a dozen computers or hard drives — all collected during the May 2 raid.



U.S. officials say three strong themes emerge from their reading of the files, most of which were communications between bin Laden and his top deputy Atiyah Abd al-Rahman. Indeed, because the Libyan-born Atiyah (who’s known to analysts by his first name) was the boss’s key link with the outside, officials see him as more important than bin Laden’s nominal successor, Ayman al-Zawahiri.



Here are the highlights:



●Bin Laden retained until his death a passion to launch a significant attack against the United States, ideally linked to the 10th anniversary of 9/11. He and Atiyah communicated often about who might carry out such a strike, with Atiyah proposing names and bin Laden rejecting them. Bin Laden was still looking for a history-changing attack on big, economically important targets — one that would match, if not outdo, the impact of 9/11. Zawahiri, by contrast, favored an opportunistic strategy of smaller strikes.



●Bin Laden was a hands-on chief executive, with a role in operations planning and personnel decisions, rather than the detached senior leader that U.S. analysts had hypothesized. Zawahiri, whom the analysts had imagined as the day-to-day leader, was actually quite isolated — and remains so, despite a dozen communications this year. Zawahiri suffers from mistrust between his Egyptian faction of al-Qaeda and other operatives, such as Atiyah.



●Bin Laden was suffering badly from drone attacks on al-Qaeda’s base in the tribal areas of Pakistan. He called this the “intelligence war,” and said it was “the only weapon that’s hurting us.” His cadres complained that they couldn’t train in the tribal areas, couldn’t communicate, couldn’t travel easily and couldn’t draw new recruits to what amounted to a free-fire zone. Bin Laden discussed moving al-Qaeda’s base to another location, but he never took action.



Analysts did not find in the material any smoking gun to suggest Pakistani government complicity in bin Laden’s presence in Abbottabad. And it’s clear he was paranoid about being found and killed: He ordered his subordinates to restrict movements to help preserve what remained of al-Qaeda in Pakistan. Fear of being discovered was a subject of regular conversation between bin Laden, Atiyah, Zawahiri and others.



Bin Laden also worried that al-

Qaeda’s status among Muslims was dwindling, and that the West had at least partially succeeded in distancing al-Qaeda’s message from core Islamic values. Concerned about this eroding base, bin Laden counseled affiliates in North Africa and Yemen to hold back on their efforts to develop a local Islamic extremist state in favor of attacking the United States and its interests.



This fear that al-Qaeda’s extreme tactics were burning too hot and alienating Muslims was also the theme of a remarkable message that Atiyah sent in 2005 to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the murderous chief of al-Qaeda in Iraq. In this document, made public five years ago by the United States, Atiyah warned that fomenting Sunni-Shiite violence (which was Zarqawi’s trademark) was potentially ruinous.



The al-Qaeda that emerges from these documents is a badly battered and disoriented group. The June 3 death of Ilyas Kashmiri in a drone attack illustrates the organization’s continuing vulnerability. Kashmiri was a ruthless operator who planned the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people and was plotting deadly attacks on Europe last winter that were stopped only because of aggressive counterterrorism work. (Security services from Europe and Turkey arrested about 20 of Kashmiri’s operatives before they could carry out the attacks.)



When top U.S. officials summarize their view of al-Qaeda now, in the run-up to the 9/11 anniversary, they describe an organization that is down but certainly not out. They don’t know of any specific plots targeting the United States, 10 years on. But they’re looking, pulsing every channel they know. They recognize that it’s what we still don’t know about al-Qaeda that’s most dangerous.



davidignatius@washpost.com



http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/10-years-after-911-al-qaeda-is-down-but-not-out/2011/08/23/gIQARQ3tZJ_story.html

On Eve Of 9/11 Anniversary, NYPD And FDNY Push For National Emergency Radio Network

The city's fire and police commissioners urged Congress Wednesday to approve a national emergency radio network in time for the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.



Our Cunningham and Gendar report:



Gathered at a Staten Island firehouse that lost five members in the attacks, Fire Commissioner Salvatore Cassano and Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said their crews couldn't talk to any federal agencies if another terror strike happened tomorrow.



"We've gone light years ahead of where everybody else has gone," Cassano said. "But to have a nationwide system would be even better."



Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a key proponent of the national radio network, noted, "Congress has yet to fulfill one of the key, outstanding recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Report....We needed to have interoperability between local, state and federal first responders."



The nation's police, fire and rescue operations use more than 55,000 separate radio networks.



The goal would be to create a single network on the radio spectrum so rescuers could talk across city, state and regional lines - and share crucial documents like building blueprints or arrest records.



"To reserve part of the spectrum for first responders is critically important to New York and nationally," Kelly said.



Money is not the primary congressional stumbling block.



A review by the Congressional Budget Office estimated a nationwide system would pay for itself through the auction of unused broadband - generating up to $6.5 billion in surplus that could go toward cutting the nation's debt.



The legislation has languished amid partisan squabbling over whether the government or private companies should own and run the network.



"We're going to go back [to Capitol Hill] in September," said Gillibrand, who joined Cassano and Kelly at the station housing Engine 160 and Rescue Company 5. "I think we'll have the support when we have the vote."



"The status quo is unacceptable," she added

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2011/08/on-eve-of-911-anniversary-nypd-and-fdny-push-for-national-emergency-radio-netw

.MSNBC Announces 9/11 Anniversary Coverage Plans

On Thursday, September 1st at 9:00 PM/ET, MSNBC will debut 'Day of Destruction - Decade of War.'



The documentary draws from the unparalleled field experience of NBC News’ Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel and the distinct analysis and insight of MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow to take a broad look at the decade since September 11, 2001. The report explores how America responded to the attacks and how the country has changed. “Day of Destruction: Decade of War” will re-air in its entirety on September 9th, 10th and 11th. Produced by Peacock Productions.



Premiering on Saturday, September 10th at 3:00 PM/ET and re-airing on Sunday, September 11th at 9:00 PM/ET, MSNBC presents the riveting story of the 9/11 Commission hearings with “On Native Soil.”



"On Native Soil" captures the content of the 9/11 Commission's report while exposing new details, including interviews with witnesses who testified for the Commission behind closed doors. It is the story of a loose collection of ordinary Americans - united by their single-minded passion for answers - who challenged a bureaucracy and triumphed. “On Native Soil” is narrated by Kevin Costner and Hilary Swank.



On Sunday, September 11th from 8:00–11:00 AM/ET, MSNBC will simulcast the NBC special.



Later that evening on Sunday, September 11 at 8:00 PM/ET, “9/11: In Our Own Words” will air on MSNBC. In this unique documentary, NBC News anchors and correspondents recall their personal memories of reporting live the morning of September 11, 2001. Weaving together the live footage of that morning with present-day interviews, the special covers the first several hours of reporting as the terrorist attacks on America unfolded.



From Matt Lauer and Tom Brokaw in the NBC News studios in New York, to David Gregory with President Bush, Jim Miklaszewski at the Pentagon and Andrea Mitchell at the Washington Bureau – the NBC News team relives the developments and emotions of that fateful day. “9/11: In Our Own Words ” is an MSNBC original production and was produced for MSNBC by Peacock Productions.



http://www.newsonnews.net/msnbc/11181-msnbc-announces-9-11-anniversary-coverage-plans.html

CNN Original Documentaries Marking 9/11 Anniversary

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Soledad O’Brien, Drew Griffin and TIME/HBO Presentation Report: 9/11 Ten Years Later

During the week leading up to the tenth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, CNN will premiere four one-hour productions on its domestic network. In investigations led by chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, investigative correspondent Drew Griffin, and anchor and special correspondent Soledad O’Brien, CNN is reporting new insights into the health consequences experienced by the first responders working at New York’s Ground Zero, examining the events of that day through the eyes of people who were on the front lines of one of America’s most tragic days, and profiling several unsung heroines who saved lives on that day. A fourth presentation from TIME in association with HBO features a collection of TIME magazine oral histories from people who experienced the events of that day as they unfolded, and their reflections as the nation reacted in the days, months, and years afterwards.



“It was a day that changed us all and CNN is leveraging its unmatched resources to cover remembrances from around the nation and the world as we look back on 9/11 and what it means a decade later,” says Bart Feder, senior vice president of programming for CNN. “In addition, these documentaries tell stories we feel will evoke pride in the heroism and bravery of the Americans who risked their lives, and some who sacrificed themselves on that day to save others. And, they present an opportunity to remember the difficult work of first responders – and our servicemen and women on the front lines overseas – who continue to try to keep this nation safe each day.”

On Tuesday, Sept. 6 at 11:00pm (replay on Sunday, Sept. 11 at 8:00pm), CNN will debut FOOTNOTES OF 9/11, featuring interviews with people who went to work on Sept. 11, 2001 – and unexpectedly became part of history. Each of the eight people profiled by investigative correspondent Drew Griffin for this documentary is mentioned in The 9/11 Commission Report – their unique experiences are drawn from the 1,742 footnotes of that report and offer critical detail to the tragic events of that day – are literal and figurative footnotes to one of America’s darkest days. They include ticket agents who checked in some of the terrorists, a maintenance technician who answered a call from one of the planes under attack, and the Lt. Col. in the Massachusetts Air National Guard – also a United Airlines pilot – who scrambled to provide defense to New York, and faced possibly having to shoot down a passenger plane.



On Wednesday, Sept. 7 at 11:00pm (replay on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 9:00pm), DR. SANJAY GUPTA REPORTS: TERROR IN THE DUST, will examine how responders who breathed in the toxic dust and noxious fumes at New York City’s Ground Zero are coping with the health effects of the attacks. The environmental hazards at the World Trade Center disaster site – mercury from fluorescent light bulbs, dioxin and benzene emitted as the jets burned, asbestos from the building materials, and more – have caused severe respiratory ailments, immune problems and, some suspect, a greatly increased cancer risk. Among those who speak to Dr. Gupta are two brothers – firefighters who searched for survivors in the pile of the collapsed towers – one whose lungs are now failing and the other who appears to have had no permanent physical effects. Ten years after the attacks chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta speaks to first responders who continue to experience emotional trauma. Dr. Gupta’s investigation includes never before broadcast footage of the collapse of the Twin Towers, the medical consequences of the killer dust, and safety recommendations for future crisis responses.



BEYOND BRAVERY: THE WOMEN OF 9/11 will air on Thursday, Sept. 8 at 11:00pm (replay on Sunday, Sept. 11 at 9:00pm), and profiles the sometimes overlooked female rescue workers who raced to the Twin Towers in the wake of the attack. Anchor and special correspondent Soledad O’Brien looks at the work of these rescue workers over the decade following their life-altering experiences. Among the stories of these heroic women of New York’s Ground Zero is an African-American firefighter whose company lost seven of the 342 firefighters who died that day. She is pushing to recruit more women to this dangerous job, even as the number of female firefighters has dropped to less than one percent of the NYFD. O’Brien also speaks with the family of a decorated police officer and mother who was photographed rescuing survivors just moments before the collapse of the towers. O’Brien reports the present-day health and emotional struggles of these unsung heroines and hears about their determination to be prepared for the next attack – and to restore hope.



On Friday, Sept. 9 at 11:00pm (with replays on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 8:00pm and 11:00pm), CNN will premiere a special presentation from TIME in association with HBO, BEYOND 9/11: PORTRAITS OF RESILIENCE. Captured in words and moving images, this documentary features untold stories drawn from 40 women and men who led and sacrificed for America in the hours, days, and months that followed the attacks. Working with the editors of TIME, award-winning photographer Marco Grob produced an astonishing set of portraits which are coupled with dramatic recollections from government leaders, survivors of the towers, and first responders.



Kathleen Johnston, Brian Rokus, and Bud Bultman produced FOOTNOTES of 9/11, Stephanie Smith and Roni Selig produced TERROR IN THE DUST, and Rose Arce and Geraldine Moriba produced BEYOND BRAVERY.



CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is the most trusted source for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; CNN Digital Network, the No. 1 network of news Web sites in the United States; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively-syndicated news service; and strategic international partnerships within both television and the digital media

9/11 Memorial Reservations online starting July 11th

With two months to go before its scheduled opening, the 9/11 Memorial in Lower Manhattan will start taking reservations online on Monday morning.

The passes will be free but will be necessary to enter the memorial, which will open to the public on Sept. 12. The ceremony to unveil the memorial is scheduled for Sept. 11, the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attack that destroyed the World Trade Center and killed almost 3,000 people. But only members of the victims’ families will be allowed to visit the memorial that day.

Starting at 9 a.m. Monday, other people interested in visiting the memorial will be able to obtain passes for half-hour blocks of time through the memorial’s Web site, 911memorial.org. At the time printed on their passes, visitors will be cleared to join the line to enter the memorial’s security screening station. But the length of time each pass holder can spend on the memorial plaza will not be limited, said Joe Daniels, president of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum.

On Monday, the memorial will also open a telephone line for reservations for groups of 10 or more, Mr. Daniels said. And each day, a limited number of passes will be available to walk-up visitors at the 9/11 Memorial preview site a couple of blocks away at 20 Vesey Street, he said

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/09/nyregion/911-memorial-reservations-to-be-offered-on-web-site.html

9-11 Memorial takes shape as the clock ticks down

NEW YORK — It’s close to two months to go and counting down.

Construction at the World Trade Center site is at a frenzied, round the clock pace that could be best described as controlled chaos. But it is chaos with a purpose and a very public deadline, which Port Authority of New York and New Jersey officials pledge they will meet.
The site will be the focus of world wide attention, along with Pennsylvania and Virginia, on Sept. 11 for the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks. Port Authority Deputy Director Bill Baroni knows this and sounds almost like British prime minster Winston Churchill during World War II in his resolve. During a tour of the massive construction site Monday, he repeats it like a mantra, talking about the focus, the challenge and the mission, to have the Memorial Plaza completed for the tenth anniversary of the day that changed the world.
“We will hit that deadline,” Baroni said as the sound of construction clattered around him. “It is the sacred mission of this agency.”


http://www.app.com/article/20110620/NJNEWS/306200082/9-11-Memorial-takes-shape-as-the-clock-ticks-down

NYPD: Remember the Heroes

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • President Barack Obama and New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, left, meet with police officers and first responders at the First Precinct before visiting the National Sept. 11 Memorial at Ground Zero in New York, Thursday, May 5, 2011. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
President Obama made a brief but solemn visit to the site of Osama bin Laden's most heinous crime Thursday, meeting with first responders and the family members of 9/11 victims in his first trip to New York since the al Qaeda leader's death.

At the World Trade Center site itself, he made no speeches, simply leaving a wreath composed of red, white and blue flowers in front of what has come to be known as the "Survivor Tree." Then Obama walked over to 14-year-old Payton Wall, whose father was killed nearby nearly ten years ago, and gave her a hug.

"We just talked," Wall told television crews after her meeting with the president, which was prompted by a letter she wrote him just days ago. She was joined by her younger sister, a friend who also lost a parent on 9/11, and her mother.

Before that visit to Lower Manhattan, Obama met with a group of New York City firefighters in a station that lost 15 members on September 11, 2001. Bin Laden's death, he said in his most extensive public remarks, sent a message "that when we say we will never forget, we mean what we say."

And, he added pointedly, he believed that "when those guys took those extraordinary risks going into Pakistan, that they were doing it in part because of the sacrifices that were made in the States. They were doing it in the name of your brothers that were lost."

Although some on the right had contended that Obama's visit to New York would serve as little more than a "victory lap," including, supposedly, an anonymous member of the George W. Bush camp, the mood throughout the day was somber. The trip was Obama's first to Ground Zero since 2008.

After he laid the wreath just steps from where the World Trade Center towers once stood, Obama had a private meeting with about 60 family members.

Story continues below
For Lee Ielpi, a retired member of the FDNY whose firefighter son died responding to the attack on the World Trade Center, that meeting was "casual." He noted that "there was no script. I was impressed, he spoke from the heart, he was very sincere, he spoke about the mission and that it was accomplished, which I really thought was very nice."

FDNY: NEVER FORGET THE HEROES

By Tina Susman and Michael Muskal, Los Angeles Times

May 5, 2011, 9:27 a.m.
Reporting from New York and Los Angeles— President Obama on Thursday arrived on a mission of commemoration and compassion in New York, where he met with firefighters and will lay a wreath at the site of the fallen World Trade Center, brought down by Al Qaeda, whose leader, Osama bin Laden, was killed in a U.S. raid in Pakistan.

Obama, whose approval rating has bumped upward after Sunday's foray against the United States' most wanted fugitive, also will meet with relatives of some those killed in the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001, and with some of the firefighters and police who were among the first responders when the plane struck the office towers in lower Manhattan. It is Obama's first visit to the site since becoming president, though he went there as a candidate.

Obama landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport at 10:39 a.m. EDT and was greeted by a crowd on the tarmac. He traveled by helicopter to Wall Street, where he arrived shortly after 11 a.m. Two fire trucks and two presidential limos were parked there. Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who was in office when the attack took place, was there as well.

President Obama first visited the "Pride of Midtown" Firehouse, Engine 54, Ladder 4, Battalion 9. The firehouse lost 15 on 9/11 — an entire shift and more than any other New York firehouse. The firefighters killed that day had 28 children. Photographs of the dead line the wall, accompanied by messages from their families.

"This is a symbolic site of the extraordinary sacrifice that was made on that terrible day almost 10 years ago," Obama told the firefighters and dignitaries. "Obviously, you can't bring back the friends you lost.

"You're always going to have a president and an administration who's got your back," he promised.

From the firehouse, the president headed to the World Trade Center where he was to place a wreath at a spot amid a grove of trees. One tree, a callery pear, survived the attacks. It was moved off the site and now has been returned. Obama will place his wreath on a spot that sits in the shadow of the famous tree.

Buildings in various states of construction surround the plaza, which is in a large square carved into the ground that is the footprint of what used to be the South Tower of the trade center. When the site is finished, the square and another one where the North Tower used to stand will be filled with water to create reflecting pools.

En route to New York, press secretary Jay Carney said the visit was designed to be a cathartic moment.

"The president believes it's appropriate and fitting to travel to New York this week in the wake of the successful mission to bring Osama bin Laden to justice in order to recognize the terrible loss that New York suffered on 9/11 and to acknowledge the burden that families of the victims and the loved ones of the victims have been carrying with them since 9/11, almost 10 years," Carney told reporters on Air Force One. It is "an effort to perhaps help New Yorkers and Americans everywhere to achieve a sense of closure."

By 9 a.m., more than four hours before the president's scheduled arrival at the site known as ground zero, the area was choked with police, tourists and fans waving American flags, chanting, "Obama got Osama!" Irritated commuters pushed through the crowds.

"I think it's a great thing for America but also a great thing for all free nations," said Mark Harrington, a tourist from Adelaide, Australia, as he took pictures of a small group of locals clad in red, white and blue top hats and coats, shouting, "God bless America" and "God bless the Navy SEALs" and sentiments such as, "It shows that we'll track you down, no matter where you hide. It may take 10 years, but we'll get you."

Behind him, across a narrow street lined with metal security gates erected by police, cranes loomed hundreds of feet into the sky from the hole where the World Trade Center once stood. Developers are rushing to make progress at the site, which remains a massive construction zone, before the 10th anniversary of the attacks.

The site was a scene of tragedy but also marked a high point of the presidency of George W. Bush, when he stood amid the rubble, calling for national unity and promising the world that the United States would bring Bin Laden to justice for the destruction and the deaths of nearly 3,000 people in New York. Obama had invited Bush to appear with him in New York, but the former president, who tries to keep out of the limelight, begged off.

New York Sen. Charles Schumer said the president's visit, which will include a private meeting with victims' families after the wreath-laying, was an important way of helping the relatives, many of whom are bitter about the decision to bury Bin Laden at sea and some of the plans for the memorial museum that include unidentified remains, such as bone chips.

"It says to the families who lost loved ones we will never ever forget you," Schumer said.

Deanne Mcdonald of Brooklyn agreed. She said she had come to the area outside ground zero early Thursday to show her support for Obama and the families.

"The lost souls ... are rejoicing in heaven," she said of the victims. "They are so happy that mission was accomplished."

That feeling of elation has been a constant thread throughout political discussions since Obama announced in a Sunday night speech to the nation that Bin Laden had been killed in a raid by U.S. forces. Polls also show that Americans credit the military and intelligence communities for the success of the raid.

Obama has gained, according to all polls, though the degree of improved approval varies. Polls showed that Americans saw Obama as a good leader and effective on national security issues, though there were still sizable worries about the economy and related economic issues. Most observers had expected Obama to receive a bump in popularity, but it was unclear how long it would last as the 2012 presidential cycle heated up.

Obama came to New York after deciding not to release photographs of Bin Laden after he was shot.

On Sept. 11, 2001, Al Qaeda terrorists hijacked jets and flew two of them into the World Trade Center's twin towers. A third plane slammed into the Pentagon. Officials believe a fourth plane had been heading for Washington when passengers fought to reclaim the craft and it crashed in Pennsylvania.

tina.susman@latimes.com

michael.muskal@latimes.com

Obama at Ground Zero: 'We will never forget'

"When we say we will never forget, we mean what we say," Obama said today during a stop en route to a wreath laying at the site where the World Trade Center towers once stood
By David Jackson, USA TODAY

President Obama speaking to firefighters today in New York.CAPTIONBy JEWEL SAMAD, AFP/Getty ImagesPresident Obama told crew members at a New York fire station that lost 15 comrades on 9/11 that the death of Osama bin Laden sends a strong message to the nation and to the world.

"When we say we will never forget, we mean what we say," Obama said today during a stop en route to a wreath laying at the site where the World Trade Center towers once stood.

Located in midtown at 48th Street and Eighth Avenue, the "Pride of Midtown Firehouse" -- one of the busiest in the world -- lost 15 people after the attack on Sept. 11, 2001.

Arriving to the applause of nearby crowd, Obama greeted each member of the company and then stopped to examine a plaque bearing the names of those who gave their lives on 9/11.

"This is a symbolic site of the extraordinary sacrifice that was made on that terrible day," Obama told company members.




Ground Zero.CAPTIONBy Seth Wenig, AP"I wanted to come here to thank you," Obama said.



The president then went in to lunch with crew now assigned to engine company 54, ladder 4, battalion 9. The president joked that he also visited the firehouse because "I hear the food was pretty good."

Obama is scheduled to lay a wreath at Ground Zero itself around 1:25 p.m.

In his remarks, Obama also said that the commitment to making sure justice was done "is something that transcended politics, transcended party."




Spokesman Jay Carney said Obama wanted to visit the city in the wake of bin Laden's death "in order to recognize the terrible loss that New York suffered on 9/11 and to acknowledge the burden that families of the victims and the loved ones of the victims have been carrying with them since 9/11."


After a short plane ride from Washington, Obama choppered to a landing zone near Wall Street shortly after 11 a.m., with two limos and a pair of firetrucks waiting.

Also on hand to greet Obama: Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who led the city after the World Trade Center attack.

During the visit to the firehouse, Obama lauded Giuliani for his "heroic acts" on 9/11.

President Obama Visits FDNY "Pride of Midtown"

President Obama made a pilgrimage to a Manhattan firehouse Thursday that lost more than a dozen men on 9/11 - just five days after he green-lighted the execution of their killer, Osama Bin Laden.

It was the first stop on a triumphal-but-solemn tour of the city that will take Obama to Ground Zero for the first time as President.

Obama was expected to break bread with the city's Bravest at the "Pride of Midtown" firehouse, where the names of the 15 firefighters who perished in the ruins of the World Trade Center are immortalized on a plaque.

By noon, Obama should be at Ground Zero.

There will be no triumphal speech about dispatching Navy SEALs to slay the dragon who brought down the twin towers.

This visit, White House spokesman Jay Carney said, is "to help New Yorkers and Americans everywhere to achieve a sense of closure."

"The president believes it's appropriate and fitting to travel to New York this week in the wake of the successful mission to bring Osama Bin Laden to justice," Carney said.

Obama is here to "recognize the terrible loss that New York suffered on 9/11, and to acknowledge the burden that families of the victims and the loved ones of the victims have been carrying with them since 9/11," he said.

So rather than speak, Obama will solemnly lay a wreath in memory of the thousands who died in the Sept. 11 attacks - with most TV networks carrying the ceremony live.

Obama will then meet privately with still-grieving mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and spouses gathered in the crucible of America's pain.

"This visit is about thanking and I just want to thank him," Charles Wolf, whose wife Katherine was killed in the terror attack, and who will be meeting Obama for the first time, told MSNBC.

"This was a really gutsy decision that he did. I think it was the turning point of his presidency."

Obama has carved out three hours at Ground Zero. He will be joined there by New York Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and Mayor Bloomberg and Gov. Cuomo.

He has also invited Rudy Giuliani and George Pataki, who were the mayor and governor during those dark days, sources said

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/05/05/2011-05-05_president_obama_heads_to_ground_zero_to_mark_death_of_osama_bin_laden.html#ixzz1LUpJjSjC

Central Florida Ballet "9/11: An American Moment."

Central Florida Ballet commemorates the 10^th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States with a performance of its ballet, "9/11: An American Moment." Created in 2006, the performance pays tribute to the heroes and survivors of the attacks. In 2007, the U.S. House of Representatives recognized the production, which celebrates American courage, resolve and pride.

MORE INFO: centralfloridaballet.com

Westport (MA) Fire Department to retrieve steel beam from 9/11

WESTPORT — A steel beam salvaged from the World Trade Center will become part of the new fire station as a permanent memorial to those killed on Sept. 11, 2001.

Fire Chief Brian Legendre said he received official notification Wednesday that the department's request for the steel was approved and is ready for pickup.

"We knew when we went to (New York City) following the attacks that we were watching history unfold before us," Legendre said in a statement. "Now we are bringing a part of that history back to Westport as a reminder for everyone to see and touch."

Plans call for members of the Fire Department to make a pilgrimage March 10 to New York City to retrieve the 435-pound steel I-beam and escort it back to Westport.

Eighteen months ago, Westport submitted a formal request to the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey for one of the beams. Distribution of artifacts from the trade center building began recently, according to Nancy Johnson, manager of the WTC Artifacts Program. Johnson said the goal is to distribute 1,000 pieces of steel before the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks later this year.

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110218/NEWS/102180315/-1/NEWS06

Cleveland Orchestra plans 9/11 tribute concert for the afternoon of Sunday, Sept. 11,

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Orchestra is planning a free, outdoor concert this year to mark the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks and honor those who were killed.

The tribute concert is planned for the afternoon of Sunday, Sept. 11, at downtown Cleveland's Public Square. It will be directed by Loras John Schissel and will be titled "Hope. Remembrance. Dedication."

The event will take the place of the orchestra's annual "Star-Spangled Spectacular" on the square.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/ohio-news/cleveland-orchestra-plans-9-11-tribute-concert-1086531.html

NYPD K-9 dog who scoured WTC after 9/11, is mourned

A beloved 9/11 hero has gone to Rainbow Bridge.

Charlie, a former member of the NYPD K-9 Unit who scoured the rubble at Ground Zero after the World Trade Center attacks, died last week of natural causes. He was just months shy of his 13th birthday.

"We cherished him," said Police Officer Suzanne McCrosson, Charlie's owner and handler, who spent six years patrolling the streets of New York with her loyal companion.

"What I remember most vividly of the day I first got him was his sweet eyes and all that hair!" she recalled. "Little did I know at the time what a rare and special gift I was given."'

http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/pets/2011/01/22/2011-01-22_a_tribute_to_charlie_k9_who_scoured_wtc_after_911_is_mourned.html