MOMMY BLOG EXPERT: Hope Prevails September 11 Anniversary Memorials in NY, Washington, Pennsylvania & Across U.S.

September 11 - Hope & Renewal

#11 in an 11-Day Memorial Series of Posts

Since the 1st of September I've been writing a post a day about 9/11 for MBE's special 11 Days of September memorial series. Over those days I've shared the many ways that hope and renewal have emerged from this great tragedy that killed 2,977 people on September 11, 2001. Today, on the the 10th anniversary of this attack on the heart of the USA, memorials took place in every time zone from New York to L.A. -- in all 50 states -- across our precious homeland in big cities and small towns.

9/11 Memorial Garden in Beverly Hills

In New York, family members of the World Trade Center victims attended a ceremony at the site and the names of all those who died from the 9/11 terror attacks were read in alphabetical order. Former President George W. Bush and Laura Bush, along with President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle were present. At 8:46 a.m., the time when American Flight #11 crashed into the North Tower 10 years ago, there was a moment of silence. A second moment of silence was observed there at 9:03 a.m., at the exact moment that United Flight #175 slammed into the South Tower.

Relatives of victims lost at the Pentagon attended a memorial service at Flight 77's final destination. President Obama laid a wreath at the site. In the nation's Capitol, residents and visitors in Washington paused for their own moment of silence at 9:37 a.m. -- the exact time when the fated American Flight #77 blazed through the solid granite walls of the Pentagon. Then, at 10:03 a.m., all was quiet momentarily in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where United Flight #93 was downed in a country field after passengers and crew put up a valiant fight to regain control of the plane from the terrorists. There, family and visitors gathered at the new Wall of Names at the place where the fourth plane crashed, causing a huge crater. Before flying to Washington for the memorial ceremony at the Pentagon, President and Michelle Obama laid a wreath at this memorial site, too.

1 of 2 items recovered from Pentagon belonging to Flight 77 's Pilot

iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

Elsewhere around the U.S. in other time zones memorial activities of all kinds took place. On the West Coast I was fortunate to attend the unveiling and dedication of the City of Beverly Hills 9/11 Memorial Garden next to the main fire station and just a few blocks from downtown Beverly Hills.

The ceremony included the Beverly Hills Police Department honor guard and bagpipes participating in the Presentation of Colors, the Star Spangled Banner sung by 10 year-old Robynne French, and the traditional 5-5-5 ringing of the firehouse bells signifying the loss of life. The meaningful festivities also included an elaborate Retire the Colors ceremony along with an explanation of the symbolic folding of the flag into a triangle and the laying of the wreath at the memorial site.

This was an emotional day for us all. But, I think the highlight for me, and many of those present, was the keynote address by Brad Burlingame who lost his brother Charles F. Burlingame III, the pilot of Flight #77. The memorial garden itself is an eloquent example of how hope and renewal have sprung forth in America.

The centerpiece of this remembrance garden is a twisted and bent beam recovered from the World Trade Center. This 1800 pound object reminds us that even though America endured a catastrophic event that day, our nation was strong and showed courage and resiliency to bounce back. In summary, our spirit and resolve can never be broken, but will only grow stronger. That is what true hope and renewal is all about.