While the U.S. contends with the destruction caused by two ferocious hurricanes in three weeks, Americans also are marking the anniversary of one of the nation91裸聊视频檚 most scarring days.
Thousands of 9-11 victims91裸聊视频� relatives, survivors, rescuers and others are expected to gather Monday at the World Trade Center to remember the deadliest terror attack on American soil.
Sixteen years later, the quiet rhythms of commemoration have become customs: a recitation of all the names of the dead, moments of silence and tolling bells, and two powerful light beams that shine through the night.
Yet each ceremony also takes on personal touches. Over the years, some name-readers have added messages ranging from the universal (91裸聊视频渢he things we think separate us really don91裸聊视频檛 91裸聊视频� we91裸聊视频檙e all part of this one Earth91裸聊视频�) to the personal (91裸聊视频淚 love you and miss you. Go Packers!91裸聊视频�).
91裸聊视频淭hank you, New York, for continuing to honour the victims of 9-11 and the privilege of reading their names,91裸聊视频� Judy Bram Murphy added last year. She lost her husband, Brian Joseph Murphy.
Nearly 3,000 people died when hijacked planes slammed into the trade centre, the Pentagon and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, on Sept. 11, 2001, hurling America into a new consciousness of the threat of global terrorism.
President Donald Trump, a native New Yorker observing the anniversary for the first time as the nation91裸聊视频檚 leader, is scheduled to observe a moment of silence at about the time the first airplane hit. The White House said he is to be joined by first lady Melania Trump.
He also planned to participate in a 9-11 observance at the Pentagon. Defence Secretary Jim Mattis and Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are hosting a private observance for victims91裸聊视频� relatives there at 9:11 a.m. Monday. After the names are read at that ceremony, there91裸聊视频檚 a public observance, with a wreath-laying and remarks.
Vice-President Mike Pence and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke are scheduled to deliver remarks at the Flight 93 National Memorial near Shanksville. It91裸聊视频檚 on the rural field where one of the airliners crashed after passengers and crew fought to wrest control away from the terrorists who91裸聊视频檇 hijacked it and were heading for Washington.
Construction continues at the Shanksville memorial, where ground was broken Sunday for a 93-foot (28 metres) tall Tower of Voices to honour the 33 passengers and seven crew members who died.
The ceremony amid the waterfall pools and lines of trees on the National Sept. 11 Memorial plaza strives to be apolitical: Politicians can attend, but since 2011, they haven91裸聊视频檛 been allowed to read names or deliver remarks.
Yet last year91裸聊视频檚 15th-anniversary ceremony became entangled in the narrative of a fractious presidential campaign when Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton left abruptly, stumbled into a van and ultimately revealed she91裸聊视频檇 been diagnosed days earlier with pneumonia.
The episode fed into questions that then-Republican-nominee Trump had repeatedly raised about Clinton91裸聊视频檚 stamina and transparency. She took three days off to recover, and Trump used footage of her stagger in a campaign ad.
Trump has often invoked his memories of 9-11 to highlight his hometown91裸聊视频檚 resilience and responders91裸聊视频� bravery. Some of his recollections have raised eyebrows, particularly remarks while talking about Muslims that 91裸聊视频渢housands of people were cheering91裸聊视频� in Jersey City, New Jersey, as the towers fell. There is no evidence in news archives of mass celebrations by Muslims there.
Meanwhile, rebuilding and reimagining continues at ground zero. The third of four planned office towers is set to open next year; so is a Greek Orthodox church, next to the trade centre site, that was crushed by the South Tower91裸聊视频檚 collapse. Work toward a $250 million performing arts centre continues after a design was unveiled last fall.
Most recently, plans were announced this spring to transform a grassy clearing on the memorial plaza into a walkway and area dedicated to 9-11 rescue and recovery workers, including those who died of illnesses years after being exposed to smoke, dust and ash at ground zero.
Jennifer Peltz, The Associated Press
