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Remembering 9/11; United Flight 93 Memorial Site; ACORN Workers Caught on Tape; Fighting the Taliban; Wall Street Remembers
Aired September 11, 2009 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone, I'm Heidi Collins. It is September 11th, 2009. You are looking at live pictures from ground zero, Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and also the Pentagon.
This hour we look back on the morning America was attacked.
Good morning once again, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins in New York today. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Do you remember where you were exactly eight years ago? This morning, the nation pauses to remember the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Somber ceremonies are being held right now at the sites of the attacks, including New York's ground zero, as you can see here.
As family members and loved ones read the names of the victims that day, we will remember several moments of silence, including when two aircraft flew into the buildings of the World Trade Center, into the Pentagon, and also into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
We'll remember those moments and we'll remember those victims.
This morning, already, we watched Mayor Michael Bloomberg escorting in the vice president of the United States, Joe Biden, and his wife Jill. They are there for commemoration as well.
Want to take you out right now to CNN's Jason Carroll, who is standing by with more of our coverage in New York.
Jason, if you can hear me, I know you are at the site, overlooking some of the progress and some of the lack of progress that's going on and has gone on at the World Trade Center. But what are your thoughts this morning as far as the vigilance and our safety in this country since that day?
JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, Heidi, as we see some of these family members attending the ceremony, I remember what one of the family members told me several years ago. She told me never again. And I think that's sort of like a foundation, as we look to security in this country, post-9/11.
I spoke to Tom Ridge, who used to be head of the Department of Homeland Security. We spoke to him about what the country has done to better secure our nation post-9/11. He said one of the best things the country ever did under President Bush was the development of the Department of Homeland Security. He said we now have better communication between agencies, we have better intelligence.
I also spoke to a leading terrorism expert who told me one of the best things that this country can do and has done is just with everyday people. You know there's a saying here in the city, if you see something, say something. And some of the best intelligence that they've been able to gather in this country post-9/11 has come from everyday people wanting to help, seeing something, and reporting it.
So, you know, the country definitely better in terms of safety post 9/11. Still a long way to go. But it was an interesting, sort of story that we did in terms of looking at what the country has done to secure itself post-9/11.
COLLINS: All right, Jason Carroll, thanks so much. We certainly appreciate it. Want to take you straight to Vice President Joe Biden now as we prepare for a moment of silence, when the second plane hit the South Tower at the World Trade Center. Let's listen.
JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Tell me about despair -- yours -- and I will tell you mine, wrote the poet, Mary Oliver. Meanwhile, the world goes on. Meanwhile, the sun and the clear pebbles of rain are moving across the landscapes, over the prairies and the deep trees, the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile, the wild geese high in the blue air are heading home again. Whomever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination, calls to you like a wild goose, harsh and exciting. Over and over, announcing your place in the family of things.
GRACE ALVIAR, HUSBAND DIED IN 9/11 ATTACKS: My name is Grace Alviar. And my husband, Cesar Amoranto Alviar, worked on the 94th floor of Tower One as an accountant. How proud we were of him. We came from the Philippines in 1983 with our three children, Christopher, Genie and Gemma.
Eight years have passed, but sometimes it feels like everything just happened yesterday. The pain can still be so sharp. Other times, I realize how my life has changed. My children have grown up, my grandchildren, Reilly James and Grayson, were born.
Life has brought many gifts to us. His three brothers, two sisters, and their families. I wish he could be here to share them. But he can still be with us in the way we live our lives. He taught us to be humble and to be patient with one another, to never hold on to anger or hate. And in his own words, to find the strength to be gentle and the courage to be kind.
This is a poem that expresses how I feel. I carry your heart with me, I carry it in my heart. I am never without you. Anywhere I go, you go, my dear. And whatever is done by only me is your doing, my love. I fear no fate, for you are my fate. I want no world, for beautiful, you are my world, my true. And it's you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you. Cesar, we miss you very much and thank you for sharing your life with me. Love you.
COLLINS: 9:06 now. We're looking at live pictures from the site of the World Trade Center, remembering September 11th. People have been throwing flowers into the waters there. We've been listening to the victim's names being read. Now listening to the governor of New York, David Paterson.
There will be readings, there will be moments of silence, 9:03, just a few moments ago, we did pause for a moment of silence because that was when the first plane hit the north tower of the World Trade Center. So we will continue to follow this and bring you those special moments as we go this morning.
The solemn remembrances not only at the site of the attacks, but at one possible target that was spared, the White House.
Later this hour, President Obama will attend a wreath laying ceremony at the Pentagon where 184 people died. He will then speak at 9:41 Eastern. We, of course, will bring you his remarks live.
Now, on to Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The site where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into a field. You remember the incredible stories that investigators later learned of the passengers revolting against the terrorists. They ultimately prevented the flight from reaching its intended target, most likely, the White House or Capitol building.
This morning, CNN's Kate Bolduan is there and joins us now.
Kate, good morning to you.
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Heidi. Well, one thing visitors most often note we're told when they come to this site is the serenity, the peaceful, the quiet that you feel and sense in this setting. Compare that, as you just noted, to the tragedy that occurred here eight years ago.
Now, if you can see behind me in the distance, there's an American flag back there. That basically indicates the point of impact of United Flight 93. Forty passengers and crew and the four hijackers on board all died in this very, very tragic accident.
Family members on this day, obviously, a very difficult day here. They're gathering together for a ceremony to mark the anniversary. This anniversary also marks, though, Heidi, a giant step forward in the effort to get a permanent memorial on this site.
Until recently, it has been locked up in a very emotional battle between the federal government and land owners on just what to do. But they have come to an agreement and they are moving forward. So this anniversary is especially meaningful for so many people as well.
I want to bring in Gordon Felt. He is the president of the Families of Flight 93. And your brother Edward was on United Flight 93.
First off on this anniversary, Gordon, thank you and again our condolences for your family's loss. Please tell us -- it happened eight years ago, well, what does this day still mean for you and the many families here?
GORDON FELT, BROTHER DIED IN FLIGHT 93: This day is certainly still an opportunity for families to get together to come here to Somerset County to mourn the loss of our loved ones. Their loss is both personal to us as well as more symbolic to the country.
You know they lost their lives in a horrendous way. But in doing so, you know, saved countless lives on the ground in Washington and perhaps the Capitol building. And that, you know, we celebrate their actions and mourn their loss.
BOLDUAN: And part of today's ceremony is called -- is named "Courage Remembered," which I think is very fitting for this setting and for your family members. Talk to me about the permanent memorial. How things are going in the big effort to get that put here on the side by, at least in part, by the ten-year anniversary.
Why is it so important to get this permanent memorial off the ground and up?
FELT: Well, it's critical that the memorial be built to recognize the actions of the 40 passengers and crew of Flight 93. And we're thrilled that there's been some significant movement, as you said, in the last month, on the part of the federal government, working with the local land owners, to ensure that the land will be transferred over to the National Park Service so that construction can start by the end of this year.
We expect to be under construction. So two years from now, when we come back to the ceremonies of September 11th, we'll be able to dedicate a permanent and lasting memorial to our loved ones.
BOLDUAN: A very different site, a very beautiful site that we all hope to see just two years from now. Many big speakers going to be here today. The keynote speaker, former secretary of state, Colin Powell, will be here. We'll be listening and we'll, of course, have that live, Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. Very good. Boy, that site right there and the stories of Flight 93 was certainly something that people really hung on to after 9/11 and their persistence and courage.
Kate Bolduan, thanks so much. We appreciate it.
On our blog this morning, we're asking how 9/11 changed your life. Just go to CNN.com/heidi and post your comments there. We'll share as many of them as we can.
To this now. Caught on tape. Two workers with a community organizing group allegedly offering advice on setting up a prostitution ring and evading the IRS. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: You probably remember the group with the acronym, ACORN. The grassroots organization which works with low and moderate- income people was accused of voter registration fraud in several states last year. Now we are talking about the organization again because of a new controversy.
Abbie Boudreau from our special investigations unit is joining us now with the story. I think everybody knows who ACORN is from the last election cycle.
ABBIE BOUDREAU, CNN SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT CORRESPONDENT: I think you're right, and I think pretty much everyone knows about the tape we're talking about where it appears that two ACORN workers were caught on tape allegedly offering advice about how to set up a prostitution ring and evade the IRS.
Here's what apparently happened. A man and a woman posing as a pimp and prostitute were secretly recording a conversation with two ACORN workers. And the man who recorded the video is an independent filmmaker named James O'Keefe. Now he's also a conservative activist, and remember, ACORN is a liberal community organizing group.
The undercover sting shows the pair approaching two women working at the ACORN office in Baltimore, Maryland. Now O'Keefe and the woman posing as a prostitute asked for advice on how to set up a prostitution ring involving more than a dozen underage girls from El Salvador. Girls we're talking 14, 15, 16 years old.
Now, one of the workers allegedly tells the pair, you want to keep them clean and make sure they go to school. She keeps repeating that. She says, to train them to keep their mouths shut.
One of the employees told the pair they could even declare some of the young girls as dependents to receive child tax credits. There was even a point in the video where a worker suggests that the woman posing as the prostitute refer to herself as a performing artist on tax forms and stop calling herself a prostitute.
Here's how all that unfolded.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Your business is a performing artist.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A performing artist?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Which you are. OK? So you're not lying.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We'll play on words.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's kind of a boost on my ego.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Performing artist.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK? So stop saying prostitute.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Got it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOUDREAU: Now we did put out calls to the Baltimore office, but they were not returned. A local spokesperson told the Associated Press that both employees seen in that video were fired, and we've been unsuccessful getting callbacks from the two ACORN workers seen on that video.
CNN also reached out to ACORN's national offices. We talked to Scott Levinson, a spokesperson there. He says, quote, "The portrayal is false and defamatory and an attempt at gotcha journalism." Levinson also told us that this film crew tried filming the same kind of sting at other ACORN offices but it was unsuccessful.
Now keep in mind, this was edited video, Heidi, where it could go black at times so...
COLLINS: Yes.
BOUDREAU: ACORN is -- you know, they're making it clear that, you know, until they see the entire unedited video, they're not saying anything further.
COLLINS: Yes, you know, it makes you wonder, is this something that authorities would look into or what's their role here?
BOUDREAU: Right. Well, we did call the Baltimore Police Department. They tell us that they're not looking into it at the time. Of course, all of that could change. We'll just have to -- one of those things we're really truly just going to wait and see what happens.
COLLINS: All right. Very good. Well, keep us posted. Sure do appreciate that, Abbie Boudreau. Thank you.
BOUDREAU: Thanks.
COLLINS: Another setback for U.S. forces in Afghanistan. The battle against the Taliban taking its toll on troops.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Checking our "Top Stories" this morning.
Two Taliban militants are under arrest in Pakistan right now. A key commander and a high-profile Taliban spokesman were taken by Pakistani security forces during operations in the volatile Swat Valley. Three other commanders also detained. The Pakistani army says the men are now being interrogated.
Two more coalition troops are dead in eastern Afghanistan. Military officials say one of them was a U.S. service member killed while on patrol.
CNN's Atia Abawi is joining us live now from Kabul, Afghanistan, with the very latest.
Atia, good morning to you.
ATIA ABAWI, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
Another U.S. soldier killed today in one of the bloodiest summers -- the bloodiest summer since the war began here in 2001. Eight years later, many people in both America and Afghanistan are questioning if the war effort is still worth it.
This has been eight years and when you speak to the average Afghan, a lot has changed in those eight years. They saw an improvement in their lives the first two years. Many welcoming the coalition forces with open arms. But when the focus of the war shifted to Iraq, many Afghans saw their lives as deteriorating and they still do.
And right now we're seeing the Taliban and many organizations stating that the Taliban has controlled from 60 to 80 percent of the country and the question remains, is it worth the fight?
And the Obama administration is saying yes, it is. Just last week, we went out with the commander of the forces, General Stanley McChrystal, and the U.S. ambassador, Karl Eikenberry, for this new push from the Obama administration to actually combine civilian and military efforts.
And what the Afghan people will tell you to this day is that it's not necessarily the war efforts, the guns and bombs that they need. They say it's a civilian effort, with helping with infrastructure, helping them find jobs, alleviating themselves from poverty. That's when you'll start seeing the Taliban disappear, the gangs disappear, and you'll see that their government will change, too.
That's one thing that they're asking for right now, is help, and when it comes to their political system, helping with their government. Right now we just saw an election that was marred with fraud. So therefore the Afghan people losing hope in their own government and seeing the coalition countries as a backer of their government. Heidi?
COLLINS: Well, there's so much to talk about, and certainly on September 11th, when we think about Afghanistan, it's very poignant to be able to talk with you today about that progress over the eight years that we have been at war in that country.
Atia Abawi, we sure do appreciate it. Live from Kabul, Afghanistan this morning. Our Anderson Cooper, in fact, is also in Afghanistan this week taking a look at the dangers facing U.S. troops there. You can see his special reports from the battle zone tonight at 10:00 p.m. Eastern.
Remembering September 11th.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I am honored to be here today for Brooklyn's own Volunteers for Prospect Park Alliance. Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Keith E. Coleman.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Scott Thomas Coleman.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Terrell Coleman.
COLLINS: You are watching live pictures of ceremonies at the site of the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center. We are listening to the names of the victims being read. We'll be following commemorations throughout the next few hours.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Michael L. Collins.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thomas J. Collins.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Joseph K. Colson.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jeffrey Duane Coleman.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Patricia Malia Colodner.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Linda M. Colon.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Saul E. Colon.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ronald Edward Comer.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sandra Joleen Conaty Brace.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jaime Concepcion.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Albert Conde.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Denise Crant.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Susan P...
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: We are listening in to chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, standing in front of the president and the secretary of defense, Robert Gates, in Washington on this day to commemorate and remember September 11th.
We will go to the president when he speaks live. That is scheduled for 9:41 this morning. Voices go silent at the New York Stock Exchange in honor of the victims of September 11th. In fact, today is a very personal day for traders on Wall Street, located just steps away from ground zero, the memories are still fresh.
Our Susan Lisovicz, who's usually at the New York Stock Exchange, is joining me now on set to talk a little bit more about that day.
Boy, when you see that moment of silence on the New York Stock Exchange, it is always breathtaking.
SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's palpable. The grief that's still fresh eight years later. But, you know, in many ways, 9/11 has shown the resilience of the financial industry and the people, the people there, Heidi, it is intensely personal.
As you mentioned, I mean, the New York Stock Exchange literally shook that day. Ringing the opening bell today, the September Concert Foundation. This just shows how it is commemorated because this celebrates peace and humanity through music.
And you know one of the things that's going to be happening today, Heidi, is that I'm going to a trading floor from -- that's a spin-off of Canter Fitzgerald.
COLLINS: Oh yes. Of course.
LISOVICZ: ... which lost nearly all of its people, nearly 700 people in its New York office. It is holding its fifth charity day. It's raised more than $20 million on 9/11. All of its proceeds go to charity.
I talked to an engineer who survived that day, he said, it's a celebration. Not only have we survived, we've thrived and we're giving back.
COLLINS: Boy, do I love to hear that. All right, Susan Lisovicz, we will check in with you once again a little bit later on with the opening bell and the trading day now beginning well into that activity today. We'll watch those numbers for you, as well.
You're looking live right now at the Pentagon, Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Officials have been arriving there all morning long ceremonies. Of course, remembering 9/11.
We will be taking President Obama's remarks live from the Pentagon in just a few minutes. He is standing behind Admiral Mullen. Very rainy day. An umbrella over his head. We, of course, will take his comments live.
Also, keeping an eye on the events this morning in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. That event scheduled to begin about 15 minutes from now. We will take you there for the moment of silence commemorating the victims aboard Flight 93. And right now ceremonies going on at Ground Zero. Families of 9/11 victims are there this morning. Once again, eight years later, for the annual reading of the names.
In fact, let's talk for a moment about Ground Zero. There are long-approved plans to build five skyscrapers on that site, but it still stands mostly empty. Across the street, though, a very different story. 7 World Trade Center was the last building to collapse on 9/11. It's now completely rebuilt, and 85 percent occupied. Developer Larry Silverstein was determined to make it the safest building in the world.
He gave me a tour of his unique construction and showed me how he incorporated the lessons learned from the 9/11 disaster.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LARRY SILVERSTEIN, PRESIDENT AND CEO, SILVERSTEIN PROPERTIES: We're in the stairwell in this building. Now, what distinguishes this stairwell from any other is that if you look at it, you'll see it appears to be extraordinarily wide.
COLLINS: Yes.
SILVERSTEIN: In fact, it's wider. Twenty percent wider than code requires. Because as we learned on 9/11 is that fire responders coming up the stairs with equipment prevented people who wanted to leave from coming down, right? So simple solution, make them 20 percent wider.
You'll also notice what appear to be twin pipes.
COLLINS: Yes.
SILVERSTEIN: Sprinkler systems. There's duality of sprinklers. What transpired on 9/11, when the planes came through, sliced right through the sprinkler system, thereby making them inoperative. So we have dual systems.
Next thing is, these sprinkler systems are fed by house tanks at the top of the building. The house tanks at the top of the building hold twice the water requirement that code requires. These stairways are both pressurized and smoke exhaustive. Pressurized to make sure no smoke get into them, and if they do, if the smoke does somehow get into the stairway, it's exhausted through the smoke exhaust system.
The whole steel structure concept of this build is built like none other that has ever been built in America before.
COLLINS: Why?
SILVERSTEIN: I'm an occupant of this building. I have my kids working with me. I have 150 people, their extended family. I want them to be comfortable. I want them to feel safe. They can feel very comfortable and feel very safe in this building. It's built to last, indefinitely. This is part of the steel assembly in this structure. You can get a sense of the heft of the steel that's imbibed in the construction of this building by just looking. Two-feet-thick, right? Two-feet-thick concrete, with 70 tons of steel rebars.
COLLINS: So you come here every day.
SILVERSTEIN: Yes.
COLLINS: You've been coming here every day for...
SILVERSTEIN: Well, since May of -- since May 30th, in fact, of 2006.
COLLINS: We look here and we see this beautiful office and this space that you work in. We just take a few steps, and we come over here, and this is what you are officing above, every day.
What does that mean to you?
SILVERSTEIN: I came to the window one morning, and I saw several of the foundation workers sitting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Unfortunately, we need to get you to the president now, remembering 9/11.
Let's listen in.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Nearly 3,000 days have passed, almost one for each of those taken from us. But no turning of the seasons can diminish the pain and the loss of that day. No passage of time and no dark skies can ever dull the meaning of this moment.
So on this solemn day, at this sacred hour, once more we pause. Once more we pray -- as a nation and as a people; in city streets where our two towers were turned to ashes and dust; in a quiet field where a plane fell from the sky; and here, where a single stone of this building is still blackened by the fires.
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 every 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."
We honor all 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. We pay tribute to the service of a new generation -- young Americans raised in a time of peace and plenty who saw their nation in its hour of need and said, "I choose to serve"; "I will do my part." And once more we grieve. For you and your families, no words can ease the ache of your heart. No deeds can fill the empty places in your homes. But on this day and all that follow, you may find solace in the memory of those you loved, and know that you have the unending support of the American people.
Scripture teaches us a hard truth. The mountains may fall and the earth may give way; the flesh and the heart may fail. But after all our suffering, God and grace will "restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." So it is -- so it has been for these families. So it must be for our nation.
Let us renew our resolve against those who perpetrated this barbaric act and who plot against us still. In defense of our nation we will never waver; in pursuit of al Qaeda and its extremist allies, we will never falter.
Let us renew our commitment to all those who serve in our defense -- our courageous men and women in uniform and their families and all those who protect us here at home. Mindful that the work of protecting America is never finished, we will do everything in our power to keep America safe.
Let us renew the true spirit of that day. Not the human capacity for evil, but the human capacity for good. Not the desire to destroy, but the impulse to save, and to serve, and to build. On this first National Day of Service and Remembrance, we can summon once more that ordinary goodness of America -- to serve our communities, to strengthen our country, and to better our world.
Most of all, on a day when others sought to sap our confidence, let us renew our common purpose. Let us remember how we came together as one nation, as one people, as Americans, united not only in our grief, but in our resolve to stand with one another, to stand up for the country we all love.
This may be the greatest lesson of this day, the strongest rebuke to those who attacked us, the highest tribute to those taken from us -- that such sense of purpose need not be a fleeting moment. It can be a lasting virtue.
For through their own lives -- and through you, the loved ones that they left behind -- the men and women who lost their lives eight years ago today leave a legacy that still shines brightly in the darkness, and that calls on all of us to be strong and firm and united. That is our calling today and in all the Septembers still to come.
May God bless you and comfort you. And may God bless the United States of America.
COLLINS: President Barack Obama remembering September 11th and the victims of that day. We'll take a break and be back in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: We are looking at live pictures now of the Pentagon. The ceremony has just come to a close. President Obama, alongside the secretary of defense, Robert Gates, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, laid a wreath and took a moment to remember the victims of September 11th at the Pentagon as well, specifically.
So we are looking at these very, very rainy pictures as we continue and move forward to remember this day, September 11th. In fact, want to go ahead and show you the wreath laying. Now, let's pause and take a moment.
Once again, the wreath-laying ceremony just a few moments ago at the Pentagon, to include President Barack Obama, whose words we heard prior to that and also secretary of defense and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Right now, what you're looking at are more live pictures. And we want to show these to you because you see the mass of umbrellas. A very, very rainy day in Washington, D.C. today.
But behind those umbrellas, what you can't see, is the president and secretary of defense, Robert Gates, walking through the line of people in the pouring rain, shaking their hands along with First Lady Michelle Obama, and greeting people and speaking with them, family members of victims of September 11th at the Pentagon.
And now we want to bring you live pictures as well of the 9/11 memorial service taking place this morning in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Shanksville is where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed as passengers and crew members tried to fight off the hijackers. Incredible stories of bravery from that flight.
Opening remarks being delivered by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. You see him on the left of your screen there. The names of the 40 people killed on board Flight 93 will be read aloud. After that, several speakers will share their thoughts, including General Colin Powell. He is delivering the keynote address. We'll bring that speech to you live when it happens.
Once again, back to the Pentagon now live pictures of President Barack Obama walking through the crowd, shaking hands of friends and family members of victims who were lost at the Pentagon on September 11th. Taking a moment despite the pouring rain. You see the first lady behind him, Michelle Obama, doing the same, greeting people and taking some time to say hello this morning.
I'm sure a very poignant and touching moment for people, for family members of the victims at the Pentagon this morning, to be able to reach out and touch the president eight years after September 11th.
Earlier, the president spoke and spoke quite briefly, in fact, to remember this day and to remember the victims. The president walking away now and saying goodbye, almost, with the secretary of defense, Robert Gates and, of course, once again, the first lady. You see them walking off now.
Pretty incredible moment, I'm sure, for all the family members who are gathered there at the Pentagon this morning.
Let's talk about, for a moment now, ground zero. Long-approved plans to build five huge skyscrapers on this site, but it has gone very, very slowly.
Across the street, though, a different story. 7 World Trade Center was the last building to go down on September 11th. Now, look at that, completely rebuilt, 85 percent occupied. Developer Larry Silverstein is determined to make it the safest building in the world, too. We took a tour together of his unique construction and how he incorporated the important lessons learned from September 11th.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SILVERSTEIN: We're in the stairwell in this building. Now, what distinguishes this stairwell from any other is that, if you look at it, you'll see it appears to be extraordinarily wide.
COLLINS: Yes.
SILVERSTEIN: In fact, it's wider, 20 percent wider than what code requires. Because what we learned on 9/11 is that fire responders coming up the stairs with equipment prevented people who wanted to leave the building from coming down, right?
So, simple solution -- make them 20 percent wider.
You'll also notice what appear to be twin-stand pipes.
COLLINS: Yes.
SILVERSTEIN: Sprinkler systems. There's duality of sprinklers. What transpired on 9/11, when the planes came through, spliced right through the sprinkler system, thereby making them inoperative.
So we have dual systems. Next thing is, these sprinkler systems are fed by house tanks at the top of the building. The house tanks at the top of the building hold twice the water requirement that code requires.
These stairways are both pressurized and smoke exhausted. Pressurized to make sure that no smoke gets into them and if they do, if smoke does somehow get into the stairway, it's exhausted through the smoke exhaust system. The whole steel structure counted to this building is built like none other that has ever been built in America before.
COLLINS: Why?
SILVERSTEIN: I'm an occupant of this building. I have my kids working with me. I have 150 people. They're extended family. I want them to be comfortable. I want them to feel safe. They can feel very comfortable and feel very safe in this building. It's built to last indefinitely.
This is part of the steel assembly in this structure. You can get a sense of the heft of the steel that's embodied in the construction of this building by just looking. Super thick -- super thick concrete, with 70 tons of steel rebars.
COLLINS: So you come here every day.
SILVERSTEIN: Yes.
COLLINS: You've been coming here every day for...
SILVERSTEIN: Well, since May of -- since May 30th, in fact, of 2006.
COLLINS: We look here and we see this beautiful office and this space that you work in. We just take a few steps, and we come over here, and this is what you are officing above, every day.
What does that mean to you?
SILVERSTEIN: I came to the window one morning, and I saw several of the foundation workers sitting and just talking. Where upon I picked up the phone and called the foundation contractor, and I said tell your guys to get off their butts and get to work.
He said, how do you know? I said, because I'm looking down upon them from my office. That's right. Next thing, everybody is scurrying around, because obviously he made the call, and they started, then they went to work.
COLLINS: All these people out there right now working. It's nowhere near as many as you want I understand that, but I'm hearing, you know, construction crews, I'm seeing cranes moving, what am I seeing?
SILVERSTEIN: Well, what you're looking at is the -- in this corner is the Freedom Tower under construction. That's just beginning to rise. My view could have been and should have been further along than it is today, but nevertheless the important thing is that it is moving forward.
COLLINS: When you look at this, and you see the potential, and you've been working on this for the eight years that -- well, 7-1/2 to be a little ebti more specific, what's the first emotion that comes to your mind?
Is it impatience now? Is it frustration now? Is it hope?
Where would you be?
SILVERSTEIN: It's really a combination of recognition of how slowly this has gone. And the time it's taking to move this process forward.
Has it been frustrating? Yes.
Am I disappointed? Terribly.
However, I'm fully committed to fulfill the obligation that I took on back at 9/11 to see these things, these buildings built and to see this process through to fruition. I firmly believe, if I don't do it, if I don't stay with it, the entire process could fall apart, and that would be a tragedy.
This is New York. The old part of New York. The new part of New York. But when all is said and done here, we will spend $20 billion on a complete rebuilding, and this place will be magnificent.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Pretty incredible day over there overlooking the World Trade Center sites. A lot going on there. But some people and many people want to see a lot more going on, so we will continue to follow that story obviously right here on CNN.
Working on the vaccine. New test results contain a surprise for scientists trying to protect us against the H1N1 flu.
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COLLINS: Researchers now say the H1N1 flu vaccine may go farther than they thought. They found that just one dose is probably strong enough to protect adults. Scientists originally thought that it would take two shots to protect against the virus. Obviously that could take time. The vaccine is supposed to be ready for delivery by mid- October.
We'll be right back.
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COLLINS: We'll show you once again some of these live pictures now from New York. Of course, still reading the victims' names at the World Trade Center site, and we are waiting for another moment of silence as we continue to listen.
At 9:59 that moment of silence will commemorate the fall of the South Tower.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I'm honored to be here today on behalf of the volunteers and responders from the Mt. Sinai World Trade Center medical monitoring and treatment program.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: All right. In order to -- let's go ahead, I believe the bell is going to ring. Let's go ahead and listen. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(BELL TOLLING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Once again, that moment of silence now and ringing of the bell in order to observe the time that the South Tower collapsed and fell to the ground. A number of people gathered as you can see at the World Trade Center site today, at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
