Nation Marks Eighth Anniversary Of Sept 11 (20 images)

NEW YORK (AP) — With familiar rituals of grief and a new purpose to honor those who rushed into danger to help, the nation marked eight years since the Sept. 11 terror attacks Friday, with volunteers reading the names of the World Trade Center lost. Memorials in New York, at the Pentagon and at the crash site of United Airlines Flight 93 in Pennsylvania all took place under gray skies, and those reading names at ground zero spoke under tents to protect against rain. “We miss you. Life will never be the same without you,” said Vladimir Boyarsky, whose son, Gennady Boyarsky, was killed. “This is not the rain. This is the tears.” President Barack Obama, observing his first Sept. 11 as president, had signed an order declaring it a day of service. He had first lady Michelle Obama marked a moment of silence outside the White House as a bugler played taps.

Christian Bernash, 4, marches between American flags forming the shape of the Twin Towers during a commemoration ceremony to mark the eighth anniversary of the terrorist attacks, in Charlotte, N.C. on Friday, Sept. 11. The Charlotte Observer / Todd Sumlin

Paul Isaac of Brooklyn, N.Y. holds an American flag outside the anniversary ceremony of the attacks on the World Trade Center. AP / Mary Altaffer

Roses thrown by mourners float in a reflecting pool at the World Trade Center site in New York AP / Chang W. Lee

People file past the reflecting pool in ground zero during the the eighth anniversary commemoration ceremony  AP / Chip East

A firefighter and a police officer from New York hold an American flag as they pay their respects during a ceremony at the World Trade Center AP / Chris Hondros

A woman holds a photograph as friends and relatives of the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks gather for a commemoration ceremony at Zuccotti Park, adjacent to ground zero,. AP / Jason DeCrow

Mourners pay their respects during a ceremony at the World Trade Center.

Marta Waisman holds a picture of her daughter Gabriela Waisman as family members of victims stand in the rain to pay their respects during a ceremony at the World Trade Center. AP / Chris Hondros

A young girl, left, drops flowers into a reflecting pool during a memorial ceremony at the World Trade Center construction site. AP / Mark Lennihan

Mourners of Sept. 11 victims place flowers in the reflecting pool at ground zero. AP / Peter Foley

People look at the World Trade Center construction site, Friday, Sept. 11, in New York. AP / Mary Altaffer

President Barack Obama wipes rain drops from his face as he greets family members of victims of the Sept. 11 attacks after speaking at the Pentagon Memorial. AP / Charles Dharapak

At the Flight 93 memorial in Shanksville, Penna., Wells Morrison, on-scene Commander of the FBI, rings a bell as the names of the passengers of Flight 93 are read. Philadelphia Inquirer / Laurence Kesterson

A  U.S. soldier salutes during a ceremony to mark the anniversary of Sept. 11 2001, at the main U.S. base, in Bagram, north of Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, Sept. 11. AP / Musadeq Sadeq

Source : sacbee

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