Obama Marks 9/11 Anniversary, Calls for Renewal of the Resolve vs. Al-Qaeda

From Sunlen Miller

Standing in the pouring rain, President Obama marked the 8th anniversary of 9/11 at the Pentagon memorial this morning– observing a moment of silence and laying a wreath at the memorial site.

Eight years later, the President said, doesn't diminish the pain and loss of the day.

"No passage of time and no dark skies can ever dull the meaning of this moment," Obama said, "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 terrible instant, they now dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

The President called for a renewal of the resolve against those who perpetrated the "barbaric act and who plot against us still."

"In defense of our nation, we will never waver.  In pursuit of Al Qaida and its extremist allies, we will never falter," the President said, "Mindful that the work of protecting America is never finished, we will do everything in our power to keep America safe."

Obama praised the commitment of the "courageous men and women in uniform"  that serve this cause for the defense of the nation.

To renew the nation's spirit Obama said that the day would be focused "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."

Today marks the first "National Day of Service and Remembrance," where the administration has called on Americans to participate in service events in their communities.

Later today the President and the First Lady will participate in a service event of their in Washington, DC.

"We can summon once more that ordinary goodness of America to serve our communities, to strengthen our country and to better our world," Obama said, "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."

Earlier this morning the President and the First Lady observed the first moment of silence on the South Portico with White House staff, marking the moment when the first plane hit.

The White House says they intend to leave politics out of the day as he did last year when his campaign, along with Republican nominee Sen. John McCain's campaign, dropped campaigning and observed the day together at Ground Zero.

"I think if you look at how the president observed this last year as a candidate for the presidency with his Republican competitor for the same office, there was a conscious effort, on both sides, I think, quite frankly, to remove the politics of 9/11 and instead remember the sacrifice that so many made, the tragedy that was involved, and do it in a way that removed political labels from such an important day," White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters yesterday.

Eight years ago, Mr. Obama was a state senator in Illinois, and spoken in the past about his memories of the day.

"I still remember driving down Lake Shore Drive on my way to a committee hearing, downtown, and hearing the initial report," Obama said last during last year's anniversary, "And there was still confusion whether it was an accident, what had happened. By the time I got downtown, we started evacuating the buildings and then we all watched in horror on television.  And like I think for most people, it is indelible.  And it is a reminder not only of the terrible potential for evil in the world, but it's also a reminder of what America does at the toughest times, which is to come together."

-Sunlen Miller