The title of an article released on September 11 is "Obama Honors 9/11 Victims (and) Those Who Serve". It was clearly an emotional day.

Obama, in his first 9/11 comments as president said: "Eight Septembers have come and gone. Nearly 3000 days has passed; almost one for each of those taken from us. BUT NO CHANGING OF THE SEASONS CAN DIMINISH THE PAIN AND LOSS OF THAT DAY. NO PASSAGE OF TIME AND NO DARK SKIES CAN EVER DULL THE MEANING OF THIS MOMENT". This is undeniable. Almost all of us should be able to remember exactly where we were and what we were doing at the precise moments when we received that terrorists had driven planes into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon while a fourth plane slammed into a Pennsylvania field. "So on this solemn day, at this sacred hour, once more we pause and once more we pray, as a nation and as a people", regardless of whether we are Democrat or Republican. This is a rare moment of unity.

"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 once more summon THAT ORDINARY GOODNESS of America to serve our communities to strengthen our country and to better our world". This is what the people who have recently left us (e.g. Ted Kennedy, Eunice Kennedy-Shriver, Corazon Aquino, Kim Dae-jung and Patrick Swayze among others) would have wanted.

Here's a troubling stat for Mr. Obama: "A new CBS News' poll finds (that) Americans are mixed on Mr. Obama's efforts to protect the country - around 25% believe that the administration's efforts have made the country more secure but nearly as many feel (that) the country is LESS safe". This is another indication that the president must forget about his nearly 80% popularity rating when he came into office.

Teresa Mathai lost her husband Joseph on 9/11: "Everyone has a different way of mourning. Some people keep it absolutely sacred (i.e. private). For me, this is something that gives us solace (i.e. some sort of closure)".

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was in lower Manhattan, the site where the first 2 hijacked planes slammed into and obliterated the Twin Towers: "From this day forward, we will safeguard the memories of those who died BY REKINDLING THE SPIRIT OF SERVICE that lit our city with hope and keep us strong". Bloomberg has done a commendable job in keeping New York City together since replacing Rudy Giuliani less than 1 year after the attacks (January 1 2002.

Just a few hundred people gathered in New York to mark the 8th anniversary of the worst terrorist attacks that we can remember.

Elaine Dejesus from Clifton, New Jersey carried a photo of her sister and best friend Nereida Dejesus: " It doesn't matter what kind of weather there is. I would be here either way. It's a way to come together and find a common place".

Vice President Joe Biden told survivors and the families of those who perished that "there's a special fraternity for those of us who have lost spouses and children". Only those of us who have lost close relatives can relate to what these folks go through most days, if not every day. Biden's first wife Neilia Biden and an infant 1-year-daughter was killed in a car crash on December 5, 1972, a few weeks after Biden was elected to his first Senate term.

Dejesus continued: "For me, it's just the same as it was the first day. There are days I just there and cry". This is expected. "But I also remember the fun times (as hard as that is) and what she would want us to do". Live life to the fullest and enjoy every day.

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell honored the passengers on United Airlines Flight 93: "As much as we may try, we can never truly grasp the emotions that must've gone through the hearts and minds of the passengers and crew AS THEY REALIZED THE MORTAL DANGER THEY WERE IN. The choice before them was clear and daunting. IF THEY HAD ANY CHANCE OF SURVIVAL, THEY HAD TO ATTACK - not only to save themselves, BUT TO SAVE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS and to show the terrorists (that) they would never defeat us. THEY REFUSED TO LET IT JUST HAPPEN, THEY ACTED. Forty men and women MOSTLY STRANGERS TO EACH OTHER, but representing the very best and MOST WONDERFUL DIVERSITY THAT IS AMERICA". Americans help each other out in times of crisis and need regardless of whether they know the people they are helping or not, unlike some other societies where people shut themselves up in a hole. "The terrorists forced them to the back of the plane THINKING THAT WOULD KEEP THEM UNDER CONTROL AND OUT OF THE WAY. But they misunderstood Americans. WE FIGHT BACK".  Interestingly, the Iraq war started because of this attitude and the Bush administration's legacy was doomed by it. "..we will never be cowed". Force must be used appropriately. "They seized the moment and lost their lives in so doing. But not before forcing THE MONSTERS to abort the mission and crash in this field saving so many of their fellow citizens". This is true, but using words such as "the monsters" is precisely what got the Bush administration into trouble. In other words, some members of the Bush administration (e.g. former Vice President Dick Cheney, former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and former disgraced Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld; Powell should also be criticized here) were TOO AGGRESSIVE. "AND IT IS NOW OUR MOMENT to act and move steadfastly toward the goal of completing a memorial to these heroes of 9/11".  This has been in the works for many years now and is way behind schedule.

Former president George W. Bush did not travel to any of the 3 sites bombarded back on September 11, 2001, but issued the following statement: "We honor those who volunteer to keep us safe and extend the reach of freedom - including members of the armed forces, law enforcement officers and intelligence and homeland security personnel. Their courage, service and sacrifice is a fitting tribute to all those who gave their lives (in defense of others) on September 11, 2001. On this day, let us renew our determination to prevent evil from returning to our shores". September 11 is clearly an emotional day for all survivors and others who were involved or who were witnesses or were in the vicinity where these horrendous acts took place.