Six Years Later

President, VP, and First Lady mark 9/11 anniversary

(NEWSER) - President Obama laid a wreath at the Pentagon; Michelle Obama joined Laura Bush at the Flight 93 crash site; Vice President Biden went to Ground Zero. Their comments on the 9/11 anniversary, via the Wall Street Journal and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette :

• President Obama: Americans “are not—and never will be—at war with Islam. It was not a religion that attacked us that September day. It was al-Qaeda, a sorry band of men which perverts religion,” he said, adding that the best way to honor the victims is to “stay true to our traditions here at home as a diverse and tolerant nation.”

Fears sum won't be enough, and lawyers get too much

(NEWSER) - A federal judge put the kibosh today on New York City’s deal to set aside as much as $657 million for 10,000 workers sickened by toxic debris at the World Trade Center site. Alvin Hellerstein thinks it’s not enough money, would leave out other first responders to the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks—and that lawyers are getting too much of it, the Daily News reports. More»

(AP) - The nation marked the eighth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks today in ceremonies under gray skies in New York City, at the Pentagon, and at the crash site of Flight 93 in Pennsylvania. Today also was the first time the anniversary was observed as a national day of service, following an order President Obama signed this year. To see images from the ceremonies, click "Slideshow" at left. More»

(AP) - Britain's Prince Harry bowed his head in prayer at ground zero today, then toured the Sept. 11 attack site and shook New Yorkers' hands in his first official visit to the US. “Big question—when is this supposed to be finished?" the 24-year-old asked officials showing him rebuilding plans for the World Trade Center site. The prince laid a wreath at a spot overlooking the memorial under construction. More»

Those who covered Ground Zero report breathing problems, other ailments

(NEWSER) - The helicopter ride through the burning World Trader Center's thick, chemical-laden smoke won Keith Meyers' 9/11 photos a share of the Pulitzer, but he says it cost him his health and career. "I could feel my skin tingling and burning," recalls the former New York Times photographer. Like Meyers, many journalists suffer illnesses matching those of Ground Zero workers, but their plight has drawn less attention—even in the media, reports Photo District News. More»