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CNN Live At Daybreak

America Recovers: One Month Anniversary Sees Memorials Across the Country

Aired October 11, 2001 - 07:09   ET

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

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Paula, good morning once again. As you mentioned, it has been exactly one month today since the attacks claimed thousands of lives and dramatically changed the country. This morning, a memorial service will be held at the site of the World Trade Center.

CNN national correspondent Martin Savidge there this morning in lower Manhattan -- Marty, good morning.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Bill.

As you look at the World Trade Center site 30 days after the attack, it's almost a mysterious and very haunting scene. As you see, one, no sign of activity this morning. And number two, the smoke that continues to rise so gently out of the pile of debris that is down there this morning. And that is an indication that the fires are still burning and, in fact, firefighters from time to time are still brought in to have to battle some of those fires.

A little less than an hour and a half from now, as you mentioned, there will be a memorial service that will be held down there at ground zero. Among those that will be taking part in that service will be the governor of New York, the mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani. There will also be the heads of the fire department, the police department. Both of those departments lost so many of their employees and their rescuers as they tried to go into that building. And then on top of that there are going to be city officials.

At 8:48, there will be a moment of silence, of course, that denoting when the first airplane struck into the first tower at the World Trade Center building.

If you want to know the figures specifically at this point, only 20 percent of the debris that came down with those buildings has been removed so far. Four thousand eight hundred fifteen people remain missing. Four hundred twenty-two victims have been pulled from the rubble.

This day is going to be noted not just in New York City, but painfully it will be remembered across the country from everything from the very large as far as memorial concerts to the very small, the very simple candlelight vigils that will be springing up in communities and prayer services that will be held in houses of worship. The most significant one of all takes place, like you say, a little less than an hour and a half from now -- Bill.

HEMMER: Martin Savidge from ground zero.

Marty, thank you.

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