#9-11 : America marks 13yrs biggest terrorist attack with Tributes (Photos)

Today September 9th marks the 13th year of America's biggest terrorist attack in which nearly 3,000 victims lost their lives. President Obama adressed the nation, speaking outside the Pentagon, Today, as families of the victims also gathered at the World Trade Center site in Manhattan and the memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where Flight 93 crashed. The president, paid his tribute saying;

'It has now been 13 years, Thirteen years since the peace of an American morning was broken; thirteen years since nearly 3,000 beautiful people were taken from us; thirteen years of moments they would have shared with us; thirteen years of memories they would have made.'
'As Americans, we draw strength from you. Your love is the ultimate rebuke to the hatred of those who attacked us that bright, blue morning... America stands tall and America stands proud... We will only grow stronger.'

The ceremony started at 8.46am, when the first plane hit the north tower and 6 moments of silence were observed to mark the strikes on the towers, the Pentagon, the collapse of the skyscrapers and the time Flight 93 went down in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Names of the victims as usual were read at the 9/11 Memorial Plaza. 

In addition, for the first time, the National September 11 Museum - was opened to the public. Also Fences around the memorial plaza were removed and was readily accessible to the public and tourists. The memorial plaza will be closed to the public for most of the day and available only to family members. It will reopen at 6pm, at which point thousands of New Yorkers are expected to mark the anniversary at the twin reflecting pools where the towers once stood. 

Two blue columns of light representing the towers illuminated the skies over Lower Manhattan in a vivid tribute on Wednesday night. This Tribute in Light will shine through the night, beginning at sundown Thursday and ending early Friday.