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At Flight 93 Memorial, Courage Praised

Obamas pay respects in Shanksville

By Polly Davis Doig,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 11, 2011 11:35 AM CDT

(Newser) – President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, placed a wreath at the Flight 93 National Memorial today, arriving at the site to pay respects to the 40 passengers and crew who died a decade ago. The Obamas visited the Wall of Names. Each of the 40 marble slabs is inscribed with the name of someone killed in the crash of United Flight 93 on Sept. 11, 2001.

Some 3,000 people were gathered at the Flight 93 memorial as Obama walked to a security barricade to shake hands. Others took his photo and sections of the crowd chanted "USA! USA!" One man called out: "Thanks for getting bin Laden!"Later, the president planned to visit a memorial outside the rebuilt Pentagon. Click through the gallery for scenes from the day around the world.
President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama place a wreath at the Flight 93 National Memorial Sunday, Sept., 11, 2011, in Shanksville, Pa.
President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama place a wreath at the Flight 93 National Memorial Sunday, Sept., 11, 2011, in Shanksville, Pa.   (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama pause for a moment of silence at the wreath laying ceremony at the Flight 93 National Memorial, Sunday, Sept., 11, 2011 in Shanksville, Pa.
President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama pause for a moment of silence at the wreath laying ceremony at the Flight 93 National Memorial, Sunday, Sept., 11, 2011 in Shanksville, Pa.   (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Gov. Tom Corbett of Pennsylvania delivers an address at the Flight 93 National Memorial Service near the crash site of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pa. Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011.
Gov. Tom Corbett of Pennsylvania delivers an address at the Flight 93 National Memorial Service near the crash site of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pa. Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011.   (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Members of the public attend memorial services near the crash site of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pa. Sunday Sept. 11, 2011.
Members of the public attend memorial services near the crash site of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pa. Sunday Sept. 11, 2011.   (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Family and friends of Flight 93 passengers and crew respond to former Gov. Tom Ridge's invitation to them to applaud the public who have shown up to honor their loved ones, in Shanksville, Pa. Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011.
Family and friends of Flight 93 passengers and crew respond to former Gov. Tom Ridge's invitation to them to applaud the public who have shown up to honor their loved ones, in Shanksville, Pa. Sunday,...   (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
A bell is rung during the reading of the names of passengers and crew who died on Flight 93 during memorial services near the crash site of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pa. Sunday Sept. 11, 2011.
A bell is rung during the reading of the names of passengers and crew who died on Flight 93 during memorial services near the crash site of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pa. Sunday Sept. 11, 2011.   (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, right, cries alongside Congressman Mark Critz during memorial services near the crash site of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pa. Sunday Sept. 11, 2011.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, right, cries alongside Congressman Mark Critz during memorial services near the crash site of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pa. Sunday Sept. 11, 2011.   (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Wally Miller, Somerset County coroner, weeps during the Flight 93 National Memorial Service near the crash site of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pa. Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011.
Wally Miller, Somerset County coroner, weeps during the Flight 93 National Memorial Service near the crash site of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pa. Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011.   (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, left walks with his wife Susan after viewing the Wall of Names near the crash site of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pa. Sunday Sept. 11, 2011.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, left walks with his wife Susan after viewing the Wall of Names near the crash site of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pa. Sunday Sept. 11, 2011.   (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Visitors embrace in front of the Wall of Names near the crash site of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pa. Sunday Sept. 11, 2011.
Visitors embrace in front of the Wall of Names near the crash site of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pa. Sunday Sept. 11, 2011.   (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Brenda Shaffer of Latrobe, Pa., observes a moment of silence at the exact time when a hijacked airplane crashed into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, near the crash site of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pa.
Brenda Shaffer of Latrobe, Pa., observes a moment of silence at the exact time when a hijacked airplane crashed into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, near the crash site of Flight 93 in Shanksville,...   (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
A bereaved family member mourns near the Wall of Names near the crash site of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pa. Sunday Sept. 11, 2011.
A bereaved family member mourns near the Wall of Names near the crash site of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pa. Sunday Sept. 11, 2011.   (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Visitors arrive for ceremonies to mark the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11 near the crash site of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pa. Sunday Sept. 11, 2011.
Visitors arrive for ceremonies to mark the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11 near the crash site of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pa. Sunday Sept. 11, 2011.   (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
A candle-lit luminaria extends along phase 1 of the Flight 93 National Memorial near the crash site of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pa. Saturday Sept. 10, 2011.
A candle-lit luminaria extends along phase 1 of the Flight 93 National Memorial near the crash site of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pa. Saturday Sept. 10, 2011.   (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Sara, right, James, center, and Amanda Gregory hug after finding their father, Donald H. Gregory's name at the National September 11 Memorial during a ceremony, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011.
Sara, right, James, center, and Amanda Gregory hug after finding their father, Donald H. Gregory's name at the National September 11 Memorial during a ceremony, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011.   (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
A girl, center, cries before reading her father's name as the victims of 9/11 are remembered at the National September 11 Memorial at the World Trade Center site, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011.
A girl, center, cries before reading her father's name as the victims of 9/11 are remembered at the National September 11 Memorial at the World Trade Center site, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011.   (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
An American flag and a photo of Abul K. Chowdhury are on his name, engraved at the north pool of the National September 11 Memorial, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011 in New York.
An American flag and a photo of Abul K. Chowdhury are on his name, engraved at the north pool of the National September 11 Memorial, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011 in New York.   (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
A prayer card for John Pocher is placed on his name engraved at the north pool of the National September 11 Memorial, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011.
A prayer card for John Pocher is placed on his name engraved at the north pool of the National September 11 Memorial, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011.   (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
US Marines salute on September 11, 2011 during the playing of the national anthem at the ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in Shanksville, Pa.
US Marines salute on September 11, 2011 during the playing of the national anthem at the ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in Shanksville, Pa.   (Getty Images)
First responders hold the National September 11 flag during a ceremony in Joplin, Mo., Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011 marking the end of the 50 state restoration tour.
First responders hold the National September 11 flag during a ceremony in Joplin, Mo., Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011 marking the end of the 50 state restoration tour.   (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
The US flag flies half staff on the US Embassy in London prior to the memorial ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary of September 11 at the Memorial Garden, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011.
The US flag flies half staff on the US Embassy in London prior to the memorial ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary of September 11 at the Memorial Garden, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011.   (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
Youths release doves during a commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, at the Trocadero plaza in Paris, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011. The Eiffel tower is in the background.
Youths release doves during a commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, at the Trocadero plaza in Paris, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011. The Eiffel tower is in the background.   (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
American Airlines pilot Steve Verdi rings a bell for United Flight 175 during a remembrance ceremony at the Garden of Reflection Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011 in Yardley, Pa.
American Airlines pilot Steve Verdi rings a bell for United Flight 175 during a remembrance ceremony at the Garden of Reflection Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011 in Yardley, Pa.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Airline pilots pose before a ceremony at the Garden of Reflection, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011 in Yardley, Pa. The memorial honors nine people from Lower Makefield Township, 18 from Bucks County, and all 58 Pennsylvanians who died Sept. 11, 2001.
Airline pilots pose before a ceremony at the Garden of Reflection, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011 in Yardley, Pa. The memorial honors nine people from Lower Makefield Township, 18 from Bucks County, and all 58...   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
A painting honoring the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11 is shown as Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions players warm up before an NFL game, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011, in Tampa, Fla.
A painting honoring the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11 is shown as Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions players warm up before an NFL game, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011, in Tampa, Fla.   (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Army medic Sgt. Daniel Chavez holds his gun as Sfc David Bibb holds an American flag on top of a helicopter to commemorate the 9/11 attacks, in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Sunday, Sept 11, 2011.
Army medic Sgt. Daniel Chavez holds his gun as Sfc David Bibb holds an American flag on top of a helicopter to commemorate the 9/11 attacks, in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Sunday, Sept 11, 2011.   (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Matthew Bowman carries a wreath to be placed near fragments of steel from the World Trade Center towers at the Garden of Reflection Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011 in Yardley, Pa.
Matthew Bowman carries a wreath to be placed near fragments of steel from the World Trade Center towers at the Garden of Reflection Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011 in Yardley, Pa.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
People arrive on September 11, 2011, at the newly dedicated Flight 93 memorial at the site where the United plane crashed in Shanksville, Pa.
People arrive on September 11, 2011, at the newly dedicated Flight 93 memorial at the site where the United plane crashed in Shanksville, Pa.   (Getty Images)
Flowers sit along the Wall of Names at the Flight 93 Memorial for the dedication ceremony, September 10, 2011 in Shanksville, Pa.
Flowers sit along the Wall of Names at the Flight 93 Memorial for the dedication ceremony, September 10, 2011 in Shanksville, Pa.   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 10 comments
brawne
Sep 11, 2011 7:27 PM CDT
Can anyone here give me a better example of heroism than Flight 93?  And I don't include anything with the military cause when you sign on the line--you accept the deal.  I mean a bunch of ordinary citizens who just bought a plane ticket?  Anyone like that since the first colony at Roanoke?  I'm just asking cause you act as though 33 people who didn't want to die, and weren't paid to die, or signed up to die aren't that important.  Why is a fireman doing his job heroic--it ain't.  These people were on the fourth plane meaning they knew what happened to the other three.  The other three are tragic, but this was heroic.  Most heroic thing any Americans just living their lives EVER DID.  If they could see who we are today--they'd let that thing fly right into the Capital cause they were dead anyway and knew it, but thought you might like to not see what 12 thousand pounds of jet fuel at five hundred miles an hour can do to a nice white dome.
GenericLeftist
Sep 11, 2011 1:42 PM CDT
Osama isn't dead, if you think that then you're a brainless zombie who eats up anything the media spits in your face. END ALL WARS NOW! Like you promised president dick head.
Rammrodd
Sep 11, 2011 12:55 PM CDT
Yawn. Longest, most boring week-end of the year. Thank goodness for the NFL.
US

 
September 11 • United Flight 93 • Shanksville • 9/11 attacks • Flight 93 National Memorial • President Obama • 9/11 anniversary

 
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