In New York, Washington and Pennsylvania, thousands of Americans have gathered to pay their respects to the nearly 3,000 people killed eleven years ago on the September 11th Al-Qaida terrorist attacks.
President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, joined other dignitaries at the White House and bowed their heads in a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. EDT, the time on September 11, 2001 which is when the first of two jetliners struck the World Trade Center in New York.

Afterward the president led a ceremony at the Pentagon memorial, which was struck by a plane during the attacks. The Pentagon is the headquarters of the U.S. military.

The President stood in front of an American flag and told the families of the victims that their loved ones would never be forgotten.

Families of those killed on 9/11 took part in a ritual reading of all of the victim’s names at Ground Zero, where the World Trade center towers that fell after being struck by planes. Some of the bereaved held up photos of their loved ones.

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said: “My concern is that too often, we do not express our concern and our attention for those that are fighting and dying for this country. We’re continuing to lose good men and women in battle in Afghanistan. They are putting their lives on the line every day. And, every day, they are fighting to make sure that this country is protected. We cannot forget that sacrifice.”

The names of everyone who died on 9/11 can be found here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2929305/posts