NEW YORK - New York paused for moments of silence at 8.46am yesterday (2.46am NZT) and again 17 minutes later to commemorate devastating attacks on the World Trade Centre that killed nearly 3000 people six months ago.
The sombre day of remembrance began in a ceremony in Battery Park just blocks from where the twin towers stood until last September 11. Mayor Michael Bloomberg asked for silence at the exact times when hijacked aircraft slammed into each of the World Trade Centre's towers.
The day of reflection on the attacks was capped by the projection of two beams of light soaring 1 1/2km into the night sky above Lower Manhattan near ground zero to symbolise the fallen skyscrapers.
The Tribute in Light memorial, with shafts of light that can be seen 32km away, was lit by 12-year-old Valerie Webb, whose father, Nathaniel Webb, a Port Authority police officer, died in the attacks.
The towers collapsed within hours and nearly 3000 people lost their lives in the New York attacks alone. Another 189 people were killed at the Pentagon and 44 in Pennsylvania in other hijack attacks that same day.
The political and spiritual leaders on hand included New York Governor George Pataki and former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who was hailed as a unifying force after September 11. He took the podium to a standing ovation.
"This was the worst violation of America in our history, and in the moments it was taking place ... and for some time, I wondered, 'Could we endure it ... could we get through it'?" he said.
"And shortly after, during the first day, I realised that your loved ones gave us the example on which we would build. I realised we had won the war on terrorism."
- REUTERS
Story archives:
Links: Terror in America - the Sept 11 attacks
Timeline: Major events since the Sept 11 attacks
Towers of light in the silence
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