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Remembering 9/11; General Petraeus Facing the Senate Today; NFL Player Kevin Everett Suffers Spinal Injury

Aired September 11, 2007 - 09:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: As the Mayor Bloomberg told you earlier, this is probably the last time they will be able to hold these ceremonies in the pit because there will be full-blown construction site above ground at this time next year.
At any rate, that's going to do it for us here on AMERICAN MORNING. Thanks for joining us. Our coverage is going to continue, of course.

KIRAN CHETRY. CNN ANCHOR: And John, we'll see you back here in New York tomorrow.

In the meantime, CNN NEWSROOM with Heidi Collins begins right now.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Heidi Collins. Tony Harris has the day off.

Watch events come into the NEWSROOM, live. It is Tuesday, September 11th, 2007. Here is what is on the rundown.

Remembering those who died on this gut-wrenching day in 2001. This scene moments ago on the White House lawn.

A 9/11 message apparently from Osama bin Laden who glorifies one of the hijackers.

The American military commander in Iraq answer to senators this hour on a troop draw down. War and politics in the NEWSROOM.

The nation pausing this hour to mark the sixth anniversary of 9/11. Ceremonies this morning in New York, Washington, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Because of construction at ground zero, the ceremony in New York is taking place at a nearby park. You see the live pictures coming into us now.

Just moments ago, though, at the White House, President Bush took part in a moment of silence honoring the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives in the terror attacks. A short time from now, a wreath laying at the Pentagon and less than an hour from now, another ceremony in Shanksville, Pennsylvania honors there for the passengers and crew who died when United flight 93 crashed into a field.

Six years ago today, shock and horror as Americans watched their homeland under attack. CNN's Alina Cho is with us now from New York.

Good morning to you, Alina.

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Heidi, good morning to you.

The anniversary ceremony marking the sixth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks is well under way here in Lower Manhattan and New York. Family members have come from all over the country. As you mentioned a bit earlier, it is being held not at ground zero but at a nearby park about a block away. It is a small but symbolic difference. And family members are certainly taking note of that.

Today there is music and moments of silence, four to be exact. Twice to mark the times that each tower was struck, twice to mark the times that each tower fell. The first moment of silence already passed at 8:46 a.m.

The second moment of silence will come at 9:03 a.m., followed by another one at 9:59 and 10:29 a.m. Eastern Time. Of course, the last two when the two towers fell. As well, the names of all 2,750 victims of the World Trade Center attacks are being read today. But a significant difference, rescue and recovery workers will be reading those names today. Not family members, that is a first. And let's go now to the moment of silence.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good morning. My name is Charlene ...

CHO: As the names of the victims are read this morning, there are still a lot of tears six years later. Family members, as they have every year, are still able to descend a ramp to the lowest level at ground zero and lay flowers in a small reflecting pool, but New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said this may be the last year family members will be able to do that.

Again, this is an active construction site and that ramp may not exist this year so this may be the last year that family members will be able to lay flowers in that small reflecting pool.

Having said that, a lot of dignitaries here today, among them the governors of New York and New Jersey, the Mayor of New York City, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Giuliani will be speaking today and that has been a point of contention somewhat because he is a presidential candidate. Critics have said he is here only for a photo-op to prop up his presidential campaign. Supporters say Giuliani lost people he knew at 9/11, he would be here even without a formal invitation.

Now, a lot of people asking the question about rebuilding. Why hasn't more been done in six years? Well, if you take a close look at ground zero, you can see that there are some signs of progress. That Freedom Tower that we've heard so much about that will eventually rise 1,776 feet tall is already at street level. There are 600 construction workers here every day, with the exception of today, of course.

Keep in mind, Heidi, this is a $16-billion construction project on 16 acres. One of the most complex construction projects in U.S. history, if not the world. And planners say there are bound to be delays, but having said that, the family members today are remembering those loved ones that they lost here six years ago.

COLLINS: And remembering them so well. It's such a poignant day for everyone in the entire country, and other parts of the world. Alina Cho live from New York, this morning.

Thanks, Alina.

A new message to tell but from Al Qaeda on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. It includes an audio recording purportedly from Osama bin Laden, over a photo of bin Laden. A voice identified as him introduces a last testament from one of the 9/11 hijackers. Waleed Al- Shehri was on the plane that slammed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. CNN cannot confirm the authenticity of the video.

This hour, General Petraeus front and center. The top military commander in Iraq returns to Capitol Hill. His progress report could shape the future U.S. role there. CNN Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash, now.

Dana, good morning to you. What is the reaction to General Petraeus' testimony on the House side on Monday?

DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's interesting. It seems as though, for the most part, positions have been hardened a little bit, but the people who could shape or change the political debate, of course, Republicans, skittish Republicans who are hearing from their constituents back home that they want some kind of change in policy, or at least know what the direction of the policy is.

For those Republicans, General Petraeus did provide some political cover, if those Republicans want it. He talked about progress and he also laid out a timetable for what he expects to see in terms of troop movement and withdrawal over the next year or so. But the reality is, Heidi, it is a change in the narrative of how we're discussing the Iraq policy but not necessarily a change in policy. Because this is something that everybody kind of expected, what General Petraeus said is the so-called surge in troops, which has the levels at 160,000, they are going to come down.

But it's going to happen by next summer and they're only going to come down to 130,000 troops. That pretty much leaves the troop levels where they were at the beginning of the year. So for Democrats, what they are already trying to do and what will likely hear in these hearings in the Senate is they are trying to make the case this really isn't so much a change of policy. And it certainly is no where near what they are demanding, which is much more robust troop withdrawal from Iraq, at least by this time next year.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOSEPH BIDEN (D), CHAIRMAN, FOREIGN RELATIONS: He's going to pick the facts that help him make that case the most. My job is to try to get to the root of it and ask the central question, basically are we better off today than we were before the surge. The answer to that so far from what I've heard and seen on the ground is no.

SEN. JOHN CORNYN (R), ARMED SVCS. CMTE: I think all of us want to bring our troops home as soon as possible. What divides us who want to bring them home based on conditions on the ground and those who want to bring them home based on arbitrary timetable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: Bring them home based on an arbitrary time table. That has been the Republican line. And you talk to Democrats, Heidi, they realize that because of General Petraeus' testimony it will likely make it a lot harder for them to do what they need to do, which is get up to the 60-vote threshold to actually pass legislation for a deadline or even a general goal for troops to come home by next year. And so that is why behind the scenes, Democrats are already working on some kind of compromise in order to force some change in policy after this testimony.

COLLINS: Quickly, Dana, what we're going to see today on the Senate side of things? I'm hearing quite a bit more contentious, most likely?

BASH: Most likely. It is going to feel and look quite different. First of all, no disrespect to the members of the House, but there is going to be a lot more star power here. You'll have senators like Hillary Clinton and like Barack Obama, and like John McCain, all of whom are presidential candidates, two other presidential candidates, the chairman of the foreign relations committee, which will chair the hearing that starts just in about 20 minutes. Joe Biden, Chris Dodd they are all people who are going to be kind of appealing to their political base, because that is what they're doing. They are running for president.

But there's something else, Heidi. These are two committees, they're going to be back-to-back hearings, Armed Services and Foreign Relations, where there are a good number of Republicans who are vocally skeptical, even critical, of this plan who have been from the start. The whole idea of sending more troops to Iraq. So it's going to be interesting to see how their questioning really is different from what the Republican questions that we heard over on the House side yesterday.

COLLINS: All right, Dana Bash breaking it down for us.

Dana, thanks so much for that.

And just a reminder, those hearings will begin at 9:30 a.m. You see General Petraeus there. We will be bringing them to you live, of course, to make sure that we have all of that covered. We want to make sure we give the same coverage as yesterday.

Count on CNN throughout the day to bring you the best coverage and analysis of the Iraq war progress report. And even when you're not in front of the TV, you can still watch the hearings live on your computer. In fact, many of you did that yesterday. Just go to CNN.com throughout the day. A flag draped Pentagon, a tribute to the 184 people who died there this day six years ago. 9/11 remembrances, live coverage all morning here in the NEWSROOM.

The remains of hundreds of people still unidentified six years after 9/11. Now a new DNA technique may change things.

One of the heroes who helped save lives as America came under attack, we'll hear from New York Fire Chief Jay Jonas.

A bit later, a helmet-to-helmet hit. An NFL player struck down in his prime. Our Chief Medical Correspondent Doctor Sanjay Gupta updates Kevin Everett's condition in just a few moments.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: We are getting live pictures in on the sixth anniversary of September 11th. On the left-hand side of your screen you see the Pentagon. People are remembering what happened on this day at the Pentagon; 184 people died in that building.

Also on little bit later on, in about 15 minutes or so, there will be a ceremony. You see people in their seats already. A moment of silence as well at 9:37. We will be hearing from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Pace, and Defense Secretary Robert Gates. They will be laying a wreath during this ceremony to commemorate the anniversary.

On the right side of your screen, you see the World Trade Center remembrances going on. You see people coming forward, and the list of names being read in the background. This is the first time now, as we've been reporting all morning, the ceremonies will not be held at the actual World Trade Center site. They are being held nearby in a park, due to the construction.

You see the reflection pool there. It might actually be the last time the family members get to go to that reflection pool and remember their loved ones. Usually throwing flowers, sometimes pictures, sometimes notes, into that pool. This may be the last time that that is possible because of all of that construction. Massive, massive project that is going on there, to remember the victims. We will continue to bring you these live pictures throughout the day here in the NEWSROOM.

Meanwhile, another story we're following this morning, a helmet- to-helmet commission. An NFL player possibly paralyzed. Our Chief Medical Correspondent Doctor Sanjay Gupta is here now with more now on this.

What is the latest on Kevin Everett?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we know he is sill sedated. We know that he is in the intensive care unit, and he is on a breathing machine. We got a lot more details from his doctors as far as what they saw immediately -- everyone has probably seen the images now of him on the field yesterday and getting hit in such a way that it looked like his neck was probably snapped back at the time.

You can see that hit there. He slumps over and falls immediately down. We know that at that time, he actually broke a bone in his neck between his 3rd and 4th bones in the cervical spine. Had he no movement. He did have pressure sensation according to his doctors that took care of him, but as soon as he got to the hospital -- he got there within 15 minutes by the way -- and they performed scans and they figured out that he had actually broken this bone.

I want on to show you really quick, if I can, Heidi, on this model here. This is a model of the spine. And over here, between the 3rd and 4th bones there is disk material there. And that was actually pushed backwards into his spinal canal, so doctors removed that and fused a couple of bones here together right here, if you can see that. And they also, from the other side, from the back side actually removed some of the bone that was also pinching on his spinal cord, and created another fusion there.

That was all to take the pressure off the spinal cord. It is unlikely that they say he will walk again. He may get some movement back, he may get some sensation back, but unlikely given the nature of that spinal cord injury that he will be able to walk again.

COLLINS: So we are talking about possible paraplegia or quadriplegia?

GUPTA: Given how high this was in the spine, again, between the third and fourth bones we are talking about quadriplegia here. You remember Utley, of the Detroit Lions, he had a similar sort of injury, but he was able to give a thumbs up sign. And that meant that he had some activation of this biceps, and some activation of his hand. It was a lower down injury, which is why he was able to do that.

In this case, the injury is so high that it controls so much of his function in both of his arms and legs that it is unlikely he will be able to either move both his arms or his legs.

COLLINS: You just hate to see it on the field like that. Just awful. I'm sure he is going to face some complications, too.

GUPTA: The operation is over and, obviously, there's this tragic sort of what looks like a tragic outcome but there is still concerns. When people are paraplegic or quadriplegic they can suffer from blood clots in their legs. Those can sometimes slip off and go into their lungs. They can suffer from pneumonia. As I mentioned, he's still on the breathing machine. So infection is still a big risk as well.

He is still considered critically injured as a result of this injury, so doctors will take care of his blood pressure and heart rate the next several days. He is being given certain medications to try to reduce the swelling of the spinal cord. The goal is get as much outcome, as much improvement as possible, but all of those medications and everything have their own risks.

COLLINS: Definitely. Any way of monitoring how hard these guys get hit? It's professional football. They're big guys, they're taught to hit as hard as they can. They have a goal in mind here, to get the guy down on the ground.

GUPTA: Right, and move the ball down the field. They wear all of this gear, including the helmets and the pads and everything. It's interesting. There's a new technology out there, actually, within the helmet itself, putting these sensors in. Think of it like air bags within the helmet, in terms of the sensors, giving a moment-to-moment information back to the sidelines, and how powerful a hit was taken by that helmet.

And trainers, or doctors on the sideline can decide what to do with that information if someone took a hard hit, or they a sequence of moderately hard hits what to do with that information. It's out there right now. A few Big Ten football teams using it, Virginia Tech is one of them, and University of Illinois.

COLLINS: You mean, what to do with that information? By way of different training? Different technology?

GUPTA: Or take the person off the field. Say, you know, what, that hit was too hard. If you take another one that could be devastating, or if you have taken a few in a row, it's time to come off the field for a while. I think that is part of the decision making process. And they're also thinking about making it more available to the lay public so a person, for example, could get that information transmitted to their home computer, and follow along and see how their child -- what is happening to their brain, and to their head in a middle of a game.

COLLINS: Wow. That's amazing.

GUPTA: It's amazing.

COLLINS: You never have it seems like too much technology in an area like this to keep people safe and playing the game that they love.

GUPTA: And making sure they know how to use it. We will keep you posted on Kevin Everett, as well. (INAUDIBLE)

COLLINS: All right, Sanjay, thanks so much. Thanks so much.

GUPTA: Thank you.

COLLINS: Honoring the loss, remembering the heroes six years after the 9/11 attacks, the Pentagon pays tribute. Live pictures there.

ALI VELSHI, CNN FINANCIAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Ali Velshi, "Minding Your Business" in New York.

Oil prices are up so you can expect your gas prices to follow. And the Fed says don't bank on interest rate cut. I'll tell you more about it when I come back in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) COLLINS: Oil prices shoot up again, closing above $77 a barrel. OPEC debates a boost in oil production in an attempt to try to cool rising crude prices. Ali Velshi is "Minding Your Business" this morning with us.

What do you think? This would help, yes?

VELSHI: Well, you know, it would help. Here's the thing. Typically, first of all, gasoline prices tend to go down after Labor Day and we haven't seen that.

COLLINS: No.

VELSHI: Gasoline prices are higher than they were in July for instance. So gas prices are going the wrong way and that wasn't entirely related to oil. Now oil prices are pushing up. In fact, yesterday they got above $78 a barrel, very close to the all-time record for oil. So the problem here is what does OPEC do? Look at that chart of oil prices. We've used about 86 million of barrels a day in the world. We don't produce a whole lot more than that. OPEC is meeting today, thinking, do we increase oil output?

Venezuela and Iran, both not big fans of the United States, are arguing against a production increase. The other argument is that the subprime crisis, the mortgage crises in the United States is going to cost people money, they're going to spend a little less, probably. And it's going to reduce the demand on oil.

But for now we've got oil prices going up again. And we'll wait to hear from OPEC to see whether they are in fact, going to increase the output and put more oil on the market and hope prices come down and gasoline prices come down as well, Heidi.

COLLINS: If you are an optimistic person you think gasoline prices go down and interest rates go down.

VELSHI: That would be ...

COLLINS: What do you think?

VELSHI: And home prices go up, and everybody has a job with a salary!

COLLINS: Yeah!

VELSHI: We're a week away from that Fed meeting. We have these every so often and in the last year and a half, they really haven't amounted to much but now people are really counting on the Fed to drop interest rates, by either a quarter of a percent. And some people are even calling for half a percent.

Yesterday a series of Fed officials made some speeches and today at about 11:00 a.m. Eastern, we will hear another speech from Ben Bernanke in Germany. I think they're sort of telling everybody, hold on, we didn't cause this subprime mortgage mess. It was cheap interest rates and easy credit that got in us into this mess in the first place and the Fed is not in the business of bailing investors out.

So, before everybody banks on an interest rate cut, hold on it, it might not happen. We will, of course, follow this Heidi, as it develops and of course, next Tuesday when the Fed does make its decision, we will be here to tell everybody what this means to them and their loans and sort of their economic future. For now the Fed is saying hold your horses.

COLLINS: All right. That wasn't what I was hoping you would say.

VELSHI: Sorry. I'll try to bring you good news tomorrow.

COLLINS: Please. We need it here. Ali Velshi, thank you so much, "Minding Your Business" this morning.

New York Fire Department Captain Jay Jonas, one of the heroes of 9/11. He is credited with helping to save lives. Jonas is now a fire chief. He talked about 9/11 and new fire department procedures that are now in place.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAY JONAS, NEW YORK FIRE DEPARTMENT: On September 11th, 2001, I was the captain of Ladder Company 6. We responded to the World Trade Center after the first plane struck the North Tower, after the second plane hit. We went up the stairs. While we were on the 27th floor, we experienced the collapse of the South Tower. You could feel every floor hit another floor, and create tremendous vibration. And it got louder as it got closer.

There were 14 people trapped in the stairway and we all survived. What was left of the stairway was the twisted, mangled, debris-filled mess. But it was our little life boat. The fire department, to its credit, wanted to make sure that we took a critical look at what we did. A lot of firefighters reported directly to the scene. That doesn't happen anymore.

Now they would report to their fire houses, or where they are directed to report. September 11th, everybody in this country should stop and pause and think about those firemen who charged up those stairways, those policemen who charged up those stairways. And say a prayer for those who didn't make it through that day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Welcome back to the CNN NEWSROOM everybody. I'm Heidi Collins. We are juggling several things going on live right now. On the upper left side of your screen, the opening bell, live from New York Stock Exchange. Children of 9/11 victims will be doing the honors today. Very special moment there.

Below that, the somber scene in Lower Manhattan. The names of the 9/11 dead are being read this morning.

On the other side of your screen, you can see the Pentagon, where American Airlines flight 77 crashed six years ago this hour. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Peter Pace led a memorial tribute there.

And finally, across the Potomac, General David Petraeus is back at the capital this hour, he is trying to convince senators to give him more time to fight the Iraq war.

We are now looking at some live pictures coming into us, this scene, Shanksville, Pennsylvania. You remember this to be the site of United Airlines 93. It was headed from Newark, unknown target, when it was disrupted by passengers. You remember the words that we later learned were going on inside that aircraft, "Let's roll" is one of them. When the passengers came together to try to overtake their attackers.

Once again, live shots coming in to us from our affiliate WTAJ in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Now we want to take you to New York Stock Exchange. We have a moment of silence, I believe, that is going on right now. Let's go ahead and listen in for just a moment.

A very powerful moment from New York Stock Exchange. You see children -- victims of 9/11 -- standing and readying themselves to ring that opening bell, which should happen any moment here.

It's called Tuesday's Children, a nonprofit organization that was basically created by the families for the families.

Actually, that was the bell. We won't hear the bell today. The moment of silence signifying the opening of the trading day on this sixth anniversary of September 11th.

We are also following another story for you today from Capitol Hill now. As we check in, General Petraeus -- you see the chairman of the U.S. Senate Commission on Foreign Relations there, Joe Biden. He will be talking and hearing from that gentleman there, General David Petraeus, the second day of hearings. He will actually appear before the two committees, the Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees will be hearing more about the plans for Iraq and the troop buildup and troop drawdown both.

We'll hear more and follow this for you as those proceedings continue.

Meanwhile, honoring the loss, remembering the heroes -- six years after the 9/11 attacks, the Pentagon pays tribute.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For our nation and especially for these who have gathered in this place today.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Live pictures coming in from the Pentagon now, as we see Defense Secretary Robert Gates there and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Peter Pace, about to take part in a wreath laying ceremony outside of the Pentagon. It is a promise to remember happening right now at the Pentagon -- this beautiful tribute to those who died in the September 11th attacks six years ago today.

We want to go live to our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr -- Barbara, tell us a little bit more about what will be happening at the Pentagon today.

BARBARA STARR, PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Heidi, I think throughout the day, people will be pausing to remember. But where you see the ceremony taking place right now is just where exactly American Airlines Flight 77, of course, hit the Pentagon -- 184 people dying.

When they rebuilt the Pentagon a year later, they actually took a piece of the original stones that were destroyed in the attack and put them back in on the outside of the building. This is now where we are watching today. This is a focal point of remembrance. It is where the memorial is being built -- under construction -- to remember the 184 people who died here.

We see General Pace about to make brief remarks. He will be followed by Defense Secretary Gates. Many of the family members and survivors gathered here today. It is six years later, but for the people who were inside the building, including myself, my colleague, Jamie McIntyre, six years just really, this morning, seems like yesterday. I think most of us can recall every instant of that day, from the moment the plane hit, everything that happened. For the people who were there, six years is really just a moment ago -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Boy, it sure does feel like that, you know? I think it feels like that every year when we do these remembrances.

And, Barbara, if you'll stand by for us just a moment here, I want to talk more with you about your memory of that day.

But let's listen in to General Peter Pace for just a moment.

GENERAL PETER PACE, JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN: ...similar observations take place today in New York and in Pennsylvania. To the families of the fallen, I do not know the proper words to tell you what's in my heart, what is in our hearts, what your fellow citizens are thinking about today. But we certainly hope that somehow, that these observances will help lessen your pain in knowing that today, as in every September 11th since 2001 and in every one to come, your loved ones will be remembered, prayed for and appreciated for their sacrifice.

Since that day, some one-and-a-half million servicemen and women have served in Iraq and Afghanistan to defeat those who on this day, six years ago, declared war on us and told us that they wanted to change our way of life.

I said this is a day of recommitment and I'm proud to stand before you as a representative of 2.4 million American men and women, active guard and reserve, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, who do recommit today to defending this nation against all enemies, who will serve this nation as their oath and as they have volunteered to do and who will do so out of complete respect for those who died here and elsewhere in our land six years ago.

There's a dialogue right now in this democracy, as there should be. Our enemy has declared war on us. The dialogue rightly focuses in on how, where and when we will defeat them. Your armed forces are ready to do so and will do so out of respect for those who died here and those who have died since in serving this great nation. We cannot touch our loved ones today, those who were lost here. Therefore we ask God to hug them for us, that they might know that we love them and we miss them and we will serve this nation in their honor.

Thank you.

COLLINS: The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Pace, offering some brief words at this memorial today at the exact site of where Flight 77, American Airlines, crashed into the Pentagon and a total of 184 people were lost.

We now have Defense Secretary Robert Gates at the microphones.

Let's go ahead and listen in to him for one moment.

ROBERT GATES, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: A fine rest as they lie in death. The souls of the just are in the hand of God and no torment shall touch them. On this day, in this place, we gather to offer a tribute to those whose lives were lost six years ago. Friends and family members, this is a day for quiet contemplation and an occasion for you to remember all the times, both good and bad, that you shared with your loved one.

We have rebuilt this building, just as many of you have rebuilt your lives and learned to live with your loss. And while time has the ability to heal wounds, to soothe anguished spirits, it can never fully dull the pain or eliminate the awful memories that will forever be associated with this day.

Today, the entire nation joins with you. You have never been and never will be alone in your sorrow. Those who did not return home that day were more than just friends and colleagues, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, mothers and fathers. They were fellow Americans, members of our nation's family. They will always be honored as such.

Here at the Department of Defense, we pay an ongoing tribute with our firm commitment to defend the United States against any and all enemies, wherever they may exist. And let there be no doubt that anyone wishing to revisit harm upon this country will find in the men and women of this department adversaries who have found clarity of purpose in their grief, a strength of resolve in their anger.

The enemies of America, the enemies of our values and our liberty, will never again rest easy, for we will hunt them down relentlessly and without reservation. We know from history that there will always be those who are impervious or accommodation, enemies who will stop at nothing to do us harm. We, too, will stop at nothing to defend this nation, its citizens and our values.

As we contemplate the challenges ahead, together we share a profound sense of duty, brought once again into sharp relief today. It is a duty to our nation, it is a duty to our fellow countrymen, it is a duty to those who perished here six years ago.

COLLINS: You were hearing from Defense Secretary Robert Gates, saying a couple of very, very powerful things at this remembrance at the Pentagon this morning, the site of American Airlines 77 flew into that area -- that exact spot at 9:37, September 11th, six years ago.

Barbara, we hear Defense Secretary Gates saying this is a day for quiet contemplation, saying that time can never fully dull the pain and then talking about anyone who wishes to revisit harm has a whole group of people inside that department who will relentlessly hunt them down. Some very, very powerful words.

STARR: You know, inside the Pentagon these days, Heidi, there are many soldiers, many troops who are now serving duty in the Pentagon who have returned from combat in Iraq. We see troops, amputees, burn victims. They work everyday in the Pentagon. And we still see the survivors of the 9/11 attacks.

I want to share with you the story of Army Colonel Marilyn Wills, a woman I have come to know very well. She works down the hall from me. I met her right after the 9/11 attacks. She was so badly injured. She had smoke inhalation, flames at her back. And she is one of the people who had to jump out a second story window on that day. She was caught by men standing below saying, "Jump, jump. We will catch you."

She came back to work. She's been at work every day for the last six years. It is really quite a part of the military culture. You know, the very next morning, on September 12th, in the midst of the flames, the smoke, the dead and the wounded being tended to here, thousands of people came back to work that morning, not knowing if they had offices to go to, not knowing the fate of their colleagues and loved ones. But that's what the military does. That's what they did on September 11th. They came to work that day. They came back on September 12th.

And for the people who work in the Pentagon, really, it's personal. Six years later, it really remains family business -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Yes, I think you put that just excellently, Barbara.

And as we continue to talk to one another, we are seeing those live pictures of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Pace, and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, participating in that wreath laying to remember the victims at the photograph today, and, I'm sure, the other victims across the country.

Barbara, let's talk for just a moment about your experience that day. Where were you exactly?

STARR: Well, I had come to work that morning and the press corps was, at that time, several corridors away from the actual attack site, though I must tell you, we have moved since then and CNN's own office in the Pentagon is at the ground zero of this attack site.

I think we're stopping now for the moment of silence, Heidi.

No, we aren't? OK. Let me -- let me just keep going. I'm sorry.

COLLINS: No problem, Barbara.

STARR: I'm just watching the pictures here.

You know, and I was out on the attack site very quickly. But I have to tell you -- and I've told my friends this over the years -- the moment that I know I will remember always is that instant when a Pentagon security officer came running down the hallway screaming, "Get out! Get out! Get out! We've been hit!"

For anyone who is around the U.S. military, those words only mean one thing -- you are in a place that is under attack and you need to move. And that is what happened here. Twenty thousand people got out of this building as fast as they could and the dead and the wounded were tended to just as fast as anyone possibly could make that happen -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Yes, and I remember the defense secretary at the time, Donald Rumsfeld, being one of those people trying to attend to folks, and Dr. Bill Frist...

STARR: You know, let me -- let me -- let me tell you a little bit about that for those who don't remember.

Defense Secretary Rumsfeld -- say what you will -- curmudgeon that he always was -- he flat out refused to leave the building that day. People tried to make him go to a more secure area. He said no. He went out to the attack site. He helped for a while with some of the wounded, then he went back in.

Once he refused to leave, of course, even with the flames and the smoke, the rest of his generals refused to leave. They said if we're going down, sir, we're all going down together.

And it became possible, really, for it to be written in military history that day, in this place, on that day, at that time, the U.S. military did not leave. The Pentagon stayed open, as terrible as things were. The expression for the U.S. military that day -- no retreat, no surrender.

Whatever has happened in the intervening six years, that was a moment of military history here that is, as I keep saying, very personal to the people who work here -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Well put, Barbara. Thanks so much for your perspective here today.

We will check back with you later as the ceremonies continue throughout the day.

Meanwhile, honor and recognition from the troops, as well. In Kabul, Afghanistan, today, a memorial service to remember those lost on 9/11.

The flag flew at half staff at the U.S. base. Soldiers stopped for a moment of silence. The general in charge told his troops there is, "No alternative to victory over terrorism."

A progress report on Iraq and a top military commander facing a tougher audience today. You see him there live, General David Petraeus.

We'll bring you more information, right after a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: We want to get to some disturbing information coming in to us, T.J. Holmes is working on it for us down in the news room -- T.J. , what do you have?

This is in St. Petersburg, Florida.

T.J. HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: St. Petersburg -- a hospital having to be evacuated right now. Patients being moved out of this hospital because of a bomb threat that was called in. Again, this is in St. Petersburg, at a V.A. hospital, actually, The Bay Pines V.A. Healthcare System. This is a sprawling, a sprawling campus, a 30- building campus, 300 acres. But right now, everybody is having to be moved out of that hospital because of a bomb scare.

However, they are having to keep the -- some essential employees in that building, and, also, some of the critical care patients in the building while authorities check the place out for any type of explosive.

But a bomb threat was called in about 7:45 this morning, so this hasn't been going on too long. It's getting close to two hours now that this has been happening there. But patients are being moved out. We're not exactly sure how many patients are being evacuated and where exactly they're taking them right now and don't know how much about the credibility of this threat.

But right now, of course, they are checking it out and making sure the all clear -- or making sure that things are all clear before they let people back in.

But some of those critical patients are having to stay in the building, as well as essential employees. But we are keeping an eye on this right now and hopefully this will work -- work itself out and nothing harmful willing found in those buildings.

But they still do have to check it out. So it's kind of a mess going to have to move that many patients -- that number of patients out of those buildings, with some having to stay behind.

Again, St. Petersburg, The Bay Pines V.A. Healthcare System.

We're keeping an eye on it. As we get an update about what's happening there, we certainly will bring it to you -- Heidi. COLLINS: All right, very good.

T.J., thanks so much.

HOLMES: All right.

COLLINS: And we are also continuing to watch the ceremonies and remembrances of those lost six years ago on September 11th.

Live pictures from coming in from our affiliate in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, WTAJ, the site of United Airlines Number 93, that went down in the field there.

We will bring you those live pictures when we come back after a break and hear a moment of silence, coming up at the top of the hour, 10:03 Eastern.

Back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Good morning, everyone. I'm Heidi Collins. Tony Harris is off today.

Stay informed all day in the CNN NEWSROOM. Here's what's on the rundown today.

Tears for those who died on the rundown today -- the nation remembers the heartbreaking events of September 11th, 2001.

A second day in front of Congress for the man leading the Iraq War. General David Petraeus warning a quick pullout now would be a rush to failure.

And riding along with American troops in the war zone -- Road To Danger.

On Tuesday, September 11th, you are in the CNN NEWSROOM.

The nation pausing this hour to mark the sixth anniversary of 9/11. Ceremonies taking place right now in New York. Because of construction at ground zero, though, today's events in New York are taking place at a nearby park.

And another ceremony taking place right now in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Honors there for the passengers and crew who died when United Flight 93 crashed into a field.

Earlier events at the White House and the Pentagon, as well.

As you know, six years ago today, shock and horror as Americans watched their homeland under attack.

CNN's Alina Cho is with us live from New York.

Good morning to you, Alina. CHO: Good morning, Heidi.

As you mentioned, the ceremony marking the sixth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks is well underway here in lower Manhattan in New York. Family members have come from all over the country. And you know, I've been here each year and I still marvel at the fact that it is such a gut wrenching site to see these family members in tears as they descend this ramp behind me at Ground Zero to the lowest point to lay flowers in a very small reflecting pool.

Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of New York, said earlier on "AMERICAN MORNING" that this may be the very last year that family members will be able to come down and descend the ramp to lay flowers in the reflecting pool because there may not be a ramp here next year.

Remember, this is an active construction site. There will be two -- four towers, rather, behind me.

But let's, for now, go to this moment of silence, the third, marking the time that the South Tower fell.

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