President Obama Observes 9/11 Anniversary For First Time As President

President Obama observed the 8th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks for the first time as President of the United States. President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and members of the White House staff gathered together on the White House grounds to observe a moment of silence in rememberance of those who gave their lives on that fateful morning. Following the moment of silence, the President attended and placed a memorial wreath at the wreath laying ceremony at the Pentagon Memorial at The Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. In his remarks, the President said "We honor those who gave their lives so that others might live, and all the survivors who battled burns and wounds and helped each other rebuild their lives; men and women who gave life to that most simple of rules: I am my brother's keeper; I am my sister's keeper." The President continued, "We remember with reverence the lives we lost. We read their names. We press their photos to our hearts. And on this day that marks their death, we recall the beauty and meaning of their lives, men and women and children of every color and creed, from across our nation and from more than 100 others. They were innocent. Harming no one, they went about their daily lives. Gone in a horrible instant, they now 'dwell in the House of the Lord forever.'"  The President declared today as National Day Of Service and Rememberance and urged Americans to engage in service and rememberance for military families and those who gave their lives on September 11th, 2001.