9/11: A Day of Remembering, Honoring

New York paused this morning to remember the collapse of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 - an attack that killed nearly 3,000 people.

Published on September 11, 2008

Four moments of silence have been held to mark the times when four hijacked passenger planes hit the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field.

President George W. Bush dedicated a new memorial at the Pentagon, where 184 died.

"The worst day in America's history saw some of the bravest acts in America's history," he said.

Putting politics aside, presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain are attending a ceremony at Ground Zero in New York. In a joint statement from the campaigns announcing their decision to visit Ground Zero together, the two men vowed to come together "as Americans" and suspend their political campaigns for 24 hours.

"We will put aside politics and come together to renew that unity, to honor the memory of each and every American who died, and to grieve with the families and friends who lost loved ones," the statement said.

Their appearance is to be followed by another in the evening at a Columbia University forum to discuss their views on public service.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg opened Thursday's memorial event at Ground Zero, where families of the victims read out a roll call of those who died.

The ceremony in downtown Manhattan marked the times when the planes hit the Twin Towers, and when each structure fell - pausing for silence at 0846, 0903, 0959 and 1029.

Family members and students representing the 90 countries that lost people in the attacks also read out the names of all the 2,973 dead.

Mr. Bloomberg said: "Today... lives forever in our hearts and our history, a tragedy that unites us in a common memory and a common story."