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Congress in New York to Honor 9/11

Aired September 06, 2002 - 14:31   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: A prayer and a poem marked Congress's second session away from the U.S. Capitol in more than 200 years. Lawmakers met at New York's Federal Hall to show solidarity with the city hit hardest by the 9/11 attacks. Now, they are at ground zero.
Let's go to our congressional correspondent Kate Snow -- Kate.

KATE SNOW, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, they just left this area. I am on Wall Street. They have traveled about four blocks down to the former site of the World Trade Center, ground zero. They are going to be on Liberty Street, which is on the south side of the World Trade Center site. And they will be doing what they call a wreath-laying ceremony. It will begin with some music; then we'll hear from the Senate chaplain, offering a prayer and a moment of silence, followed by an honor guard presenting the wreath, the honor guard representing the New York Fire Department, the New York Police Department, the Port Authority. And also, a soloist will be singing: A 16-year-old girl from the Bronx will be singing for the members of Congress.

They just left, before this, a luncheon that they attended with Mayor Michael Bloomberg, that luncheon about 650 people including New York City leaders -- New York City politicians, business leaders and so on. And before that, they had been at, of course, their main ceremony, here at Federal Hall. This is what is the focus of the day was on, an hour-long commemorative session with the members of Congress all present inside the room of Federal Hall, on the site where Congress first met, back in 1789. They heard from the leaders of the Congress and also from Vice President Dick Cheney. A lot of somber words and somber tones.

Dick Gephardt, the minority leader of the House of Representatives, spoke about the ideals of America.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. DICK GEPHARDT (D-MO), MINORITY LEADER: Today, we speak of the unspeakable. We remember the unimaginable. And we reaffirm our utmost resolve to defend the birthright of this land and our gift outright to this world, ideals of liberty and tolerance that will never die.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNOW: Vice President Dick Cheney when he spoke talked about liberty and freedom and said that the terrorists have not won, that the United States will continue to pursue the goal of liberty. That was echoed by several of the speakers here this morning, House Speaker Dennis Hastert talking about lessons of 9/11, September 11, and the fact that this country has to work toward ridding the world of terrorism.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. DENNIS HASTERT (R-IL), HOUSE SPEAKER: As we remember September 11, we must look forward to the day when we complete the task at hand, when we vanquish once and for all the terrorists who seek to take away our nation's freedom.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNOW: Again, Kyra, they are now down at ground zero. This is a very quick visit to New York City. Many of the members have places to be later tonight. Some Jewish member wanted to make sure they would be home for the beginning of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year. But they will wrap up with a very symbolic event at ground zero, the laying of a wreath in honor of the victims.

All of this, of course, has been full of symbolism. It really wasn't an official session of Congress, Kyra, but rather a symbolic effort to try to show their solidarity with the people of New York -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Kate Snow, on the Hill. Thanks, Kate.

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