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CNN Saturday Morning News

9/11 Reflections and Remembrance; Pennsylvania Honors Flight 93; Helping 9/11 First Responders; Pastor Tells NBC No Koran Burnings; Putting Politics Aside; Paying Tribute

Aired September 11, 2010 - 08:00   ET

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

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.

You're looking at live pictures of the three places that were hit on this day nine years ago - New York, the Pentagon, and also Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where a plane went down after the heroes of this day kept that plane from making it to its intended target. We will be checking in at all three of these places as we remember what happened on this day nine years ago, when nearly 3,000 people were killed in the attacks of September 11th.

But good morning to you all. I'm T.J. Holmes, coming to you this morning from the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia. It's 8:00 A.M. where I sit here this morning.

We have ceremonies going to be taking place starting in about 40 minutes in New York. We will take you back to Ground Zero.

But first, I want to give you an update on a story that has captured this country's and the world's attention, rightly or wrongly, over the past several days, the issue of the proposed Koran burning in Florida. A pastor there, Terry Jones - you know his name by now, but I just want to give you this update - that, in fact, he has minutes ago coming out and saying in a live interview on NBC that there will be no Koran burning.

He didn't just say it has been suspended, he said it has been canceled. He said he wouldn't do it now. He wouldn't do it ever. He said it will not happen.

So that story about the proposed Koran burning has now been done away with, in some respect, if you will, if you believe what he's saying, and he says he will not be burning a Koran.

More details on that coming in a bit. Just wanted to get that bit of news out of the way here.

But let's move back to what we should all be thinking and talking about on this day. That is the memory of those who were killed on this day nine years ago in New York, Washington, D.C., and also in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Let's start in New York. The program there set to get underway here in about 40 minutes. What you're going to see there is four different moments of silence. The first is going to be at 8:46 A.M. That is going to observe when the first plane struck the North Tower. Then, immediately after, family members are going to start being allowed into the World Trade Center site.

Then, coming up, the second moment of silence will be at 9:03 A.M. That is when the second plane hit the South Tower. Then, at 9:30 - I'm just letting you know the schedule here as we go throughout the morning, and at 9:30 it's going to be when President Obama - not in New York but in Washington, D.C. - is going to make an address at the Pentagon.

Then, back to New York at 9:59, another moment of silence. That is when the South Tower fell.

Then, coming up in the 10:00 hour, the former First Lady, Laura Bush, and the current First Lady, Michelle Obama, will both be speaking at the ceremonies in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Then, back in New York, 10:28 A.M., a moment of silence will be held to mark when the North Tower fell.

On the right side of your screen there you are seeing a live picture - yes. Go ahead and out that back up for me. A live picture there in New York. That's at Ground Zero where the vice president is there now.

The Vice President Joe Biden is going to be speaking and being a part of the ceremonies there. You see him alongside the New Jersey governor right behind him, Chris Christie, and also the New York governor, David Paterson, there as well. You can see him greeting what could imagine possibly some first responders or some family members of the victims of that day.

But these ceremonies will be taking place throughout the morning. Again, that one there in New York getting underway here in just about 35 minutes. We will certainly take you back there live for it, and you will certainly hear the vice president's remarks live, you'll hear the president's remarks live in - in Washington. You'll also hear from the First Lady as well.

But our Susan Candiotti - and we have a team of reporters at all of these sites this morning, but our Susan Candiotti is where we're going to start. She is near Ground Zero for us.

Susan, good morning to you once again.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, T.J.

Obviously, here in New York, the pain is especially different for people who live here about the events of 9/11 as people share their memories of what happened that day, share the pain of what happened that day, as well.

And, of course, there is a heightened sense of security this day around Ground Zero, a number of street closings around this site as they prepare for the memorial. And families, of course, are already on-site. You're seeing the activity down there now with Vice President Biden and his wife, with Mayor Bloomberg. Both the governors of New York and New Jersey are also here this day. They obviously will be meeting with families throughout the morning, shaking their hands, trying to give them some strength and support as well.

And, for the first time on this anniversary, families will also be interacting with some of the people who are working on the 9/11 Memorial, which will be opening one year from today. We have that guarantee from the people who are a part of that construction.

For the first time, family members will be able to see some tangible progress, as we mentioned earlier. They will see the outline of the Reflecting Pools which will mark the footprints of both towers that were destroyed that day and killed nearly 3,000 souls on all - during all the attacks.

And also this year, unlike other anniversaries, there is that controversy, the controversy that is brewing over the proposed Islamic center and mosque that they're talking about building about two blocks away from here. There will be rallies later this day about that.

And also in New York, as you indicated, the Florida minister who has flown here last night, but he got an unexpected reception from the police department. And, in fact, New York City police commissioner Ray - Ray Kelly told us that they had a meeting with him last night and they promised not to let him out of their sight.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RAY KELLY, NEW YORK CITY POLICE COMMISSIONER: We met him when he got off the plane last evening. We had an extensive discussion with him. We believe we know what his plans are, at least what he says his - his plans are.

We're going to know where he is at all times. We'll keep a - a close tab on him.

You know, it's difficult to say whether or not it's - it's raised the - the problem level here, if you will, but we're going to keep a - a close tab on him today and tomorrow.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: Of course, that has to do with the rallies that are taking place later this day.

But, at this hour, on this morning, this is all about the anniversary of the destruction of the World Trade Centers.

T.J., back to you.

HOLMES: All right. Susan Candiotti, we appreciate you.

Once again, (INAUDIBLE) to our viewers, we're keeping a close eye. We can show you that picture, we can see the vice president, the mayor as well beginning to - to gather and get in place. We know the ceremony is going to be taking place here in about 30 minutes. We will bring it to you live.

What you see there, the vice president, also Dr. Jill Biden, his wife.

But we're just getting started. The families started gathering here in New York about an hour ago, started showing up on-site. They have a specific place, Zuccotti Park is where this whole ceremony is going to take place. The families started to gather there, again, about an hour ago. Zuccotti Park is on the south - southeast corner of the World Trade Center site.

But the families - and we've seen this year after year where the family members are paired up and they go up to the front and they actually read the names of every single person who was killed on that day. But those readings are going to take place today as well, going to last until maybe noon or maybe 12:30 today.

But there are 2,752 names. That's how many people were killed on that day at the World Trade Center site. A couple of hundred others were killed at the Pentagon and also in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, making it nearly 3,000 people who were killed that day.

Again, all the men you see there huddled up, the governors of New York and New Jersey, as well as the mayor of New York, will all be participating in the ceremony. We'll take you there live.

You know the story out of Pennsylvania. The way the story goes, police - the passengers of that United Flight 93 helped avert another disaster. They took down the terrorists on board that plane.

Our Sandra Endo is live in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where the First Lady, Michelle Obama, as well as the former First Lady, Laura Bush, will be taking part in the commemorations today. Sandra, good morning to you.

And, of course, so much attention always focused on New York, and - and rightly so. But a lot of attention should as well be focused on the Pentagon and of course where you are, in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

SANDRA ENDO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, T.J.

Good morning.

It's starting to fill up here. Friends and family members of the victims of United Flight 93 are gathering here for this solemn ceremony. As you mentioned -

(AUDIO GAP)

-- ceremony today. Now, this is the spot where I'm standing -

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ENDO (voice-over): Nine years ago, there was no response from United Flight 93. Then, this ominous threat from a hijacker.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ladies and gentlemen; here's the captain. Please sit down. Keep remaining seating. We have a bomb on board.

ENDO: Now, an American flag flies in the breeze, standing strong in a bale of hay, marking the crash site where passengers on Flight 93 fought for their lives, for the country, for freedom, overcoming the terrorists on board.

The notes and mementos at the temporary memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania have been gathered up, making way for the construction of a permanent memorial to mark the resting ground for the everyday Americans who rose to meet the extraordinary circumstances on that flight.

Ken Nocke's brother, Joey, was one of them.

KEN NOCKE, BROTHER KILLED ON FLIGHT 93: What's the common goal here is to see that the heroes of Flight 93 are honored and cherished and remembered for generations to come.

It's really funny. It's harder - harder to leave here than it is to come here.

ENDO: The 2000-acre memorial site is protected national parkland, expected to attract a quarter of a million visitors a year.

JEFF REINBOLD, U.S. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE: We wanted to capture the setting for the site, so when you come here it's not Manhattan, it's not the Pentagon, it's rural Pennsylvania.

ENDO: A special place where Gordon Felt visits often to remember his brother, Edward.

GORDON FELT, BROTHER KILLED ON FLIGHT 93: There's something about this site that - that just naturally gives someone comfort and a sense of peace. This is a final resting place. This is where, you know, our loved ones lost their lives. But it's a peaceful setting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ENDO: A peaceful and somber place today where this morning the names of the 40 victims will be read and a bell will also toll for each of them. And this is scheduled to get underway in about an hour and a half - T.J.

HOLMES: All right. We will be back there live.

Sandra Endo, we appreciate you this morning. Thank you so much.

Well, so many of us have seen the pictures of what happened on 9/11, but there are plenty of people that day who lived through it. They were in New York City that day.

So what exactly was it like? Well, a lot of people know what it was alike - what it was like, including a lot of our CNN reporters who were there that day. We will talk to one of our reporters, share his experience as you look at a live picture of Ground Zero where the memorial will now open next year, as scheduled.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Well, 13 minutes past the hour now. We are just about 20, 25 minutes away from the official start of the ceremony at Ground Zero today to commemorate and remember all of those who were killed on this day nine years ago.

We have been checking in this morning with people certainly who were there who lost loved ones. And some of the people who were there were our own CNN reporters.

I want to turn now to our CNN radio correspondent Steven Kastenbaum. He's here with us this morning from Ground Zero. Steve, good morning to you. We appreciate you coming in with us.

What's it always like being back down there, but especially being back down there at Ground Zero on this day?

STEVE KASTENBAUM, CNN RADIO: You know, T.J., any block you stand on here in Lower Manhattan, near Ground Zero, has a memory for - for many of us. And - and no matter when you're here, whether it's September 11th or on any other day, you can't help but take yourself back to that day on 2001 when you were down here.

And - and I still see the sites. I can still hear the sounds of that day. I remember what I did on a particular corner, who I interviewed, the sites I saw. I remember a month later they had a memorial service here, right along the perimeter of the World Trade Center.

That was a very emotional day. It was the first time thousands of family members were able to get close to the site and the - the fires were still burning in the pile deep down below while this memorial service was taking place, and most of the relatives still had no idea what had happened to their loved ones.

Those memories will always be with me.

HOLMES: And Steven, I asked the question of another one of our CNN employees who was down there as well nine years ago. And the question was we - oftentimes in this business, we get out to the scene and we go right to work.

Did you find yourself down there, back then, getting right to work and almost ignoring and not even taking in so much of what was happening around you or could you not help but understand the magnitude of what was happening and - and for a much part of it you weren't necessarily just a reporter?

KASTENBAUM: You know, it was unlike any story I had ever covered before, and all of my colleagues say the same thing. Nothing could have prepared us for the things we saw, the things we heard on that day, some terrible sights. And you - you get to work on a - on a disaster story and usually you're - you're trying to turn off your emotions because you have a job to do. But, on that day, it was impossible. You really could not turn yourself off, and - and it was really difficult to focus on the task at hand.

I remember on one corner, just a few blocks north of here, they had dropped off - I don't even know how they wound up there, but there was a pile of two by fours, and volunteers came down out of nowhere and were hammering together makeshift stretchers that were presumably going to be used for - for the injured that they thought would be pulled from the pile.

And, you know, it's an emotional thing because you realize many of the folks who were going to be carried out of there were not going to be alive, and it's hard not to be affected by sites like that when you're covering a story of this magnitude.

HOLMES: All right. Well, Steven Kastenbaum - again, a story like none other and hopefully one this country would never have to cover again.

Steven, we appreciate you taking the time out for us on this nine-year anniversary. We'll talk to you again soon.

Well, as we know, many first responders at Ground Zero are still to this day battling illness. And some help is on the way, some would hope.

The 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. It hasn't become law yet, some nine years later. What's the hold-up and what are the chances that it could get passed soon?

It's 17 minutes past the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: At 18 minutes past the hour, taking a look now at some of the stories making headlines.

The promised release of an American hiker now canceled. You remember this young lady? You see her there in the pictures. She's one of three Americans who've been held in an Iranian prison for more than a year now. They're charged with spying.

Iran had said they were possibly going to be released or at least releasing one of them, the lady, but they say now the judicial process not complete just yet.

There are also concerns for that young lady's health now, and a lump has reportedly been found in her breast.

Also this morning - I told you this at the top of the hour, but Pastor Terry Jones now says he will not burn any Koran, now or in the future. You're seeing video of him arriving in New York City last night. New York City police met him there and are going to keep up with him, they say, while he's in town.

Commissioner Ray Kelly said they're doing that for his own safety there. But this pastor had caused a national and even an international uproar by announcing this was International Burn a Koran Day and he would do that in Florida. Well now, this morning, in a live interview on NBC he said, in fact, he will not burn a Koran and he will not do it anytime in the future.

Also, take a look at San Bruno, California now. Federal investigators are now getting involved after that explosion, that natural gas fire and explosion. A 30-inch pipe exploded. This is on Thursday night, but it burned a number of homes in this one particular neighborhood.

Four people were killed, three have now been identified, including a mother and her 13-year-old daughter. Again, three dozen homes destroyed.

It's 20 past the hour. Stay here with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Twenty-four minutes past the hour. We're just minutes away from the start of the ceremony at Ground Zero to commemorate the 9/11 attacks which took place nine years ago today.

Of course a lot of people, a lot of first responders, a lot of heroes responded on that day, and right now, nine years later, some are questioning why they're not getting the health care that they need. Lawmakers from New York are once again promising to bring up this legislation, this vote on a $7.5 billion aid package to help those emergency workers at Ground Zero.

Joining us now to talk about the proposed 9/11 first responders health bill is Representative Carolyn Maloney of New York who, of course, is one of the sponsors of that bill. Ma'am, good morning. Thank you for being with us.

And tell us just what Americans should think about the fact that nine years later this bill still is not law.

REP. CAROLYN MALONEY (D), NEW YORK: Well, first, thank you, T.J., for your concern and for continuing to follow this important story.

9/11 was one of the darkest days in American history, but one of the brightest in humanity in terms of the nobleness, the courage, the response of the first responders who turned 9/11 into one of the greatest recovery acts of all times.

The bill we have before Congress, I have been assured by the Democratic leadership that they will bring it to a vote the second week we are back. So I expect a vote the week of September 20th.

And we have the votes to pass it under regular rule, which is a majority rule. We brought it to the Floor under suspension, which required a supermajority of roughly 290 votes. We got 255, which means we do have the votes to pass it when we get back under a regular rule.

And the men and women who rushed in to save the lives of others, they deserve their health care. The bill would provide health care for everyone who was sick and monitoring for everyone who was exposed to the deadly toxins.

HOLMES: And. Ma'am, are we assured this time around, as well, because we remember, it wasn't too long ago that we saw that fight up there in the House, when, yes, a two-thirds majority was required?

So, are we assured now that this will come under regular rules and only a majority will be required? And, if so, is this a no- brainer, this will pass?

MALONEY: Well, the - the Democratic leadership assured me that it would come under a regular rule. We also have more momentum now because Leader Reid in the Senate is supporting it, along with our senators. And - and also President Obama has come out strongly for the bill.

I have every belief and - and good wishes that this will come to the floor without politics. It is my hope and expectation that the republican leadership and the Democratic leadership will come together and pass this noble bill to help the heroes and heroines of 9/11. That is my hope.

HOLMES: And you spoke as well about a possible momentum because several people have come out, including the president, talking about he was in favor of the bill. But does it also help with this momentum, because right now people's minds are on 9/11?

MALONEY: Oh, absolutely, and - and the exposure that you and others are giving to the - to the families, to the sufferers, to the remembrance, to remind us, really, of the strength of that day, the healing that's taking place. But we can't forget the men and women who sacrificed their health to help others.

We know on 9/11 we lost almost 3,000 New Yorkers, but thousands and thousands more lost their health. And many are sick and dying with cancer, with what we call the 9/11 cough from the - the debris, the pulverized glass, the mixture with fuel and oil, which is creating a coating on many people's lungs.

So it's truly very important that we pass it. It's life saving. It's important. It's the least that we can do to help those who were there to help us.

HOLMES: All right. Well, like you say, it could be just a couple of weeks before we see this come up for a vote in the House once again.

Representative Maloney, we appreciate you taking the time out here with us on this 9/11. MALONEY: Oh, T.J., thank - thank you for your concern and for bringing this story to the public and urge them to call their senators and Congress members to support this important bill. It's the least we can do as a grateful nation.

HOLMES: We will continue -

MALONEY: Thank you.

HOLMES: Yes, Ma'am. Thank you. And we will absolutely continue to follow it and follow up and see, in fact, if you do get what you were promised, that vote up there in Capitol Hill. Thank you so much, Ma'am.

We'll check in with her again, certainly, down the road.

Well, here we are, coming up on the bottom of the hour now and just a few minutes away from the start of the actual memorial ceremony there at 9/11. We are as well here in a moment going to take a look at what this area is going to look like a year from now.

This is Ground Zero now, but a memorial has been in the works that should be up and running, we're told, a year from today. We'll give a closer look at what that planned memorial will look like as we come up on the bottom of the hour.

These are live pictures of people now starting to gather there, family members, clearly, some people with signs, showing pictures, showing their loved ones that were lost on that day. Again, 2,752 people died right there, at that spot, nine years ago today.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Welcome back on this Saturday morning, on this September 11th, 2010; nine years now after the attacks of 9/11. You are seeing a live picture of a reflecting pool and where people have left roses this morning as the nation starts, once again, its remembrance ceremonies. The American flag waving in the wind there at Ground Zero; families are starting to gather and others as well.

Ceremonies set to begin officially here in about eight minutes from now. We will certainly take you back there live. I do want to -- before we get to all that -- give you an update on a story that this country and literally the world has been watching. That man, Terry Jones, the pastor of that church in Gainesville, Florida, who said he planned a burn the Koran day today. You're seeing pictures of him land in New York City last night.

But this morning in a live interview on NBC he said, in fact, the event is canceled. He will not be holding an event to burn the Koran today. And he also said he won't do it ever. This is not just postponed, that could come back at a later date.

But he says, he's telling NBC that he will not be holding an event to burn the Koran. This story has gone out across the world. There have been protests in other parts of the country, including -- excuse me, parts of the world, including Afghanistan and Pakistan. People protesting what this man was planning to do and many thought this would further hurt relations between Americans and the Muslim community here and around the world.

But, in fact, he has now canceled that event. In fact, just a short time ago live on an interview here with me Commissioner Ray Kelly of the New York Police Department says they met him at the airport last night when he arrived. And they're going to keep a very close eye on him while he's in New York.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RAY KELLY, NEW YORK POLICE COMMISSIONER: We met him when he got off the plane last evening. We had an extensive discussion with him. We believe we know what his plans are, at least what he says his plans are. We're going to know where he is at all times. We'll keep a close tab on him.

You know, it's difficult to say whether or not it's raised the -- the problem level here, if you will, but we're going to keep a close tab on him today and tomorrow.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Yes, and he says they're keeping a close tab for his own safety, for the pastor's safety. Commissioner Kelly telling me that, in fact, the pastor told them he is going to be leaving New York on Monday. Also don't know if he has any meeting set up with the imam who is trying to set up that Islamic center and mosque near Ground Zero.

Of course, that pastor came out and said he had a meeting set up with the imam. And the imam had agreed to move the proposed Islamic center somewhere else. That wasn't the case. So not exactly sure what he was doing in New York, but a lot of people will be relieved to hear at least that he is cancelling that planned burning of the Koran. And says he will never ever have an event like that in the future.

Let me give you a look right now at some other stories we are keeping a close eye on today including out in California where federal investigators are now looking for a cause of that massive explosion and fire near San Francisco. We're told a 30-inch pipe exploded, this was on Thursday night in San Bruno, right outside of San Francisco.

Four people were killed, three now identified, including a mother and her 13-year-old daughter. Three dozen homes were destroyed in this thing.

Also, today's release of an American hiker from a prison there in Iran has been canceled. Sarah Shourd is one of the three Americans who had been held there -- more than a year they've been held. They've been charged with spying by Iran. And we had gotten word yesterday, the day before, that, in fact, she was going to be released this weekend but now Iranian officials say that is not the case and the judicial process has not been completed.

She has some concerns about her health now. And reportedly a lump was found in her breast. So we will follow that story and see what happens.

We're back now to the 9/11 remembrance today. We're not even talking about politics for a change right now, even though we are in an election season. But everybody paused at least for today.

The president's weekly radio address and the GOP reply would normally poke holes at each other's political agenda. Not today. The two sides pay tribute to those people who died, the families who mourned them and those who tried to save them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Today we pause to remember a day that tested our country. On September 11th, 2001, nearly 3,000 lives were lost in the deadliest attack on American soil in our history. We will never forget the images of planes vanishing into buildings, of photos hung by the families of the missing. We will never forget the anger and the sadness that we felt.

And while nine years have come and gone since that September morning, the passage of time will never diminish the pain and loss forever seared in the consciousness of our nation. That's why on this day we pray with the families of those who died. We mourn with the husbands and wives, the children and parents, friends and loved ones. We think about the milestones that have passed over the course of nine years, births and christenings, weddings and graduations, all with an empty chair.

On this day we also honor those who died so that others might live, the firefighters and first responders who climbed the stairs of two burning towers, the passengers who stormed a cockpit, and the men and women who have in the years since worn the uniform of this country and given their lives so that our children could grow up in a safer world. In acts of courage and decency, they defended a simple precept, I am my brother's keeper, I am my sister's keeper.

And on this day we recall that at our darkest moment we summoned a sense of unity and common purpose. We responded to the worst kind of depravity with the best of our humanity.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JON KYL (R), ARIZONA: The ninth anniversary of 9/11 should cause us to think hard about the enemy that attacked us and will do so again if we relax our efforts. We need to remember that direct terrorist attacks are but one of the tactics of this determined enemy.

Today we should remember the victims of 9/11 and their families. We should also recall the sacrifice of those in our military, including the loved ones of those lost. Others, civilians and intelligence officers, deserve our deepest gratitude.

Tomorrow and beyond, we should recapture the unity that allowed us to come together as a nation to confront a determined enemy. That is neither a Republican nor a Democrat challenge. That is an American challenge.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: And we have been asking you out there for some of your thoughts. Everybody, Josh Levs, remembers where they were on this day. Isn't it interesting to see some of the things people have been sending in?

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It has, yes. We're going to look at that. I'll tell you, here's one group of people that you might never have heard from ever since 9/11. It's a group of young people who were in a school in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, right near where the plane crashed there, Flight 93.

I'm going to play you a couple of clips now of what some of these students are saying at a video from the National Parks Service. Let's take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I remember watching the TV and watching the World Trade Towers being hit and thinking, this can't be happening here. This is America. This happens in -- of other places. We're untouchable. And just that sense of security kind of being rocked.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When it happened it was -- you know, a big fireball, it shook the building. It scared me to see my classmates underneath desks and taking cover like what's going to fall from the sky next.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEVS: And we're also hearing from you on Facebook and Twitter. I'm going to have some of those, next hour. But for now, T.J., I think we need to get to one of the ceremonies taking place right now.

HOLMES: Yes, let me go ahead and go to this live picture that's starting at 8:40, right on time. They are getting this started, bagpipers and drummers coming in. This is the beginning of the official ceremony that, again, we're going to see four different moments of silence.

The first at 8:46 -- that is when the first plane hit the first tower, the north tower, on this day nine years ago.

I just want to go ahead and just listen in as this ceremony begins.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: And you are looking live at the ceremony that is now under way in New York; the official memorial service on this nine-year anniversary of 9/11. The drummers on stage, you just heard the "Star- Spangled Banner" a moment ago from the choir of young people actually there. The bagpipes and now the drummers are playing.

And we are expecting to hear from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg here in just a moment. But he is going to get started with the first of four moments of silence today. Two moments to mark when those plane struck the towers and another two moments of silence to mark when those two towers came down -- 8:46, 9:03, 9:59, and 10:28 specifically when those moments are going to take place.

Also, participating in today's ceremony, is going to be the Vice President; Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden are there, along with the Governor of New York, David Paterson. And also the governor of New Jersey Chris Christie is there as well.

You see a lot of people and we see this year after year gathered in the crowd there; family members who have of course have pictures of their loved ones they lost on that day. They have them up.

It appears the mayor is at the stage. Let's listen.

MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, NEW YORK: Once again we commemorate the day that we have come to call 9/11. We have returned to this sacred site to join our hearts together with the names of those we loved and lost.

No other public tragedy has cut our city so deeply. No other place is as filled with our compassion, our love, and our solidarity.

It is with the strength of these emotions, as well as the concrete glass and steel that is brought in day by day, that we will build on the footprints of the past the foundation of the future.

At this time please join us and all New Yorkers in a moment of silence.

It was once impossible to believe that two soaring towers of people and possibilities could be so coldly silenced. Throughout the years we have sought consolation in what we have learned; that those we lost live on in our memory. And that a measure of grace can be found in the determination to take up the life before us.

The poet Archibald MacLeish wrote, even among the ruins shall begin the work, large in the level morning of the light, one man in the sun alone walks between the silence and the stone.

LARRY MCGOVERN, SON OF 9/11 VICTIM: My name is Larry McGovern. My mother Ann worked on the 92nd floor for Aeon on Tower Two.

I come from a great big crazy Irish family, and my mother was the craziest of us all. She was also the glue that kept us together. She was an incredible sportswoman and a very strong advocate of women athletes. She was opinionated and noisy, fun and competitive, and always, always fair. Sportsmanship, she said, is what sports and life are all about. A young woman she once coached wrote me this, "your mother inspired me to be the best athlete I could ever be. She influenced me to continue my athletics by giving me confidence in myself at a very young age."

For work my mother often had to be out on the road, and when she could, she would be on the golf course or watching my kids at a game. But as fate would have it nine years ago she was at her desk. Maybe another day she wouldn't have.

Every year since 2002 I have given out a sportsmanship award at my children's school to a graduating eighth grade girl who most embodies the drive for excellence coupled with grace and sportsmanship. And what I realized is that I am describing is my mom. My family and I hope that her spirit, crazy and wonderful and full of fairness will live on and on.

God speed, mom. You're always in our thoughts and prayers.

HOLMES: You just heard from Larry McGovern there talking about his mother that he lost. People have fond memories of the ones they lost that day. He said his mom was the craziest of them all in the family, but talking about how he has continued her legacy of helping young people over the years.

We will continue to keep a close eye. We're going to bring you more of this ceremony, like I said. We've just been through the first of four moments of silence we'll see out of New York.

But this isn't the only ceremony going on today; also ceremonies happening in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, as well as at the Pentagon today. This is the one in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. This is in western, the southern -- southwestern part of the state there where people are gathering. And that is the place where the plane went down.

Forty people were killed on that plane. They're accredited with bringing that plane down, overtaking the hijackers and keeping them from reaching their intended target.

The first lady Michelle Obama as well as the former first lady Laura Bush will both be participating in that ceremony. We'll take you there live.

Also event happening at the Pentagon; this is where the president, President Obama will be participating in a live ceremony that's taking place at the bottom of the hour. This place is where, of course, another plane crashed at 9:37 a.m. Eastern time. American Airlines Flight 77 and where 184 people were killed.

Quick break; we're right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Now, eight minutes to the top of the hour. I'll tell you what, we are keeping an eye on right now, that's a live picture. They have just started the ceremony, memorial service there at Ground Zero. This is what we have seen year after year at these memorial services. They read every single name of the people who were killed there on that day nine years ago today.

There are some 2,752 people killed right there -- right there at ground zero. You see what happens every year. We've seen plenty of that in the crowd. People have pictures of those who were killed. These are all family members who are participating in this ceremony. They will be allowed to tour Ground Zero. We're keeping a close eye on that.

Another moment of silence scheduled here at 9:03; that's when the second plane hit the south tower. And then we're going to be hearing from the Vice President Joe Biden. We will take you back there live in just a moment.

Also want to tell you about a couple of other things this morning.

The first living recipient of the Medal of Honor from Iraq or Afghanistan will be decorated at the White House. This is Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta. He's being honored for his action in Afghanistan in October 2007.

According to officials, the 25-year-old saw two Taliban fighters drag a fellow soldier away. He ran after them, killed one of them, wounded the other. The soldier though, he was trying to help, later died from wounds but he did not allow that soldier to be captured.

Also, we are expecting the possible release of an American hiker from a prison in Iran but now we're told that has been canceled. Sarah Shourd is one of three Americans who have been held for more than a year now, had been charged with spying. Iran's judiciary now saying they are objecting to her release, saying the process has not yet been completed. There are also concerns now about her health and reportedly a lump has been found in her breast.

Again, we are nine years to the day of the 9/11 attacks. We are watching ceremonies that are taking place at Ground Zero in New York, also taking place in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, also at the Pentagon; that is where the president, we'll hear from him at the bottom of the hour.

There that shot is at the Pentagon. Of course, 184 people killed there. Another 40 killed when the plane went down in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. But again, New York, where 2,752 people were killed.

We have an eye on all of these ceremonies. We will take you back there, live right after a break. Stay tuned.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Now, just a few minutes to the top of the hour now.

As you know, we are keeping an eye on ceremonies keeping place today to commemorate the 9/11 anniversary.

Meteorologist Reynolds Wolf, we have three different places to keep an eye on. People are going to be outside for these. We've been showing the pictures of New York. Looks beautiful at least.

REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Should be fine. D.C. looks good. Shanksville looks like it might be a little interesting in the afternoon, maybe some clouds, maybe some or showers. But for the time being, things for the most part do look pretty good.

The reason why things are going to be fine in the northeast, or at least they should be, is because this area of high pressure is keeping things relatively dry across parts of the Northeast Corridor. Over when you get back to the west, you see this area of low pressure, this frontal boundary, all that drifting to the east. As it comes closer, places like Pennsylvania may be dealing with a rainfall later on.

Meanwhile, in D.C. it looks pretty good. Out to the west though, into the parts of the Central Rockies, high pressure is going to keep things very dry there. Not really what you want if you happen to be a firefighter battling a blaze near Boulder, Colorado. The wind though, thankfully should be much weaker today than it has been over the past couple of days.

And then out to the West Coast, relatively dry there, too but in the coming days, expect more cloud cover and with that a chance of scattered showers, possibly a few storms in northern California.

Speaking of some rough stuff for you: temperatures still fairly warm on the Gulf Coast; very muggy in Houston, 93 at the high; 94 in Dallas; 102 in Phoenix; 75 in Billings; 79 in New York; 79 in Boston; Washington, D.C. with 81 degrees.

Now, we're going to leave the U.S. and head out toward the center of the Atlantic where we're watching two separate things. One, this wave moving off the coast of Africa, the second would be this system. This happens to be Igor; Igor, fairly strong tropical storm at this time, winds currently at 70 miles-per-hour. Once it gets running to 74 it's going to pass a threshold and become a hurricane. This whole storm is actually forecast to become a fairly big hurricane, perhaps a major hurricane.

As we fast forward to Thursday, this day last one you see here north of the Leeward Islands, possibly winds again very strong, major hurricane status. It's still a long way to say whether it's going to affect the U.S. directly but I would say at least by the end of next week there's a good chance we could have some heavy surf action to say the very least along much of the Eastern Seaboard.

There's a quick snapshot of your forecast T.J. Again, weather looks like it's going to cooperate for all the big events planned today.

HOLMES: Reynolds, appreciate that buddy.

WOLF: You bet.

HOLMES: Thanks so much.

And those big events he's talking about, of course, here we are on the nine-year anniversary of the September 11th attacks.