Trump's tribute to those who died on 9/11

AFP

US President Donald Trump yesterday paid tribute to the 2,977 people killed on September 11, 2001, warning that “savage killers” who threaten the United States will find no haven on earth.

On the 16th anniversary of the attacks, Trump’s first as president, he observed a moment’s silence at the White House before laying a wreath and delivering a speech at the Pentagon, where 184 people died.

His tone unbending and solemn, Trump championed America’s resilience and “common bonds,” but issued a stern warning to “enemies” that “America cannot be intimidated.”

“Those who try will soon join the long list of vanquished enemies who dared to test our mettle,” he said.

In Trump’s native New York, at Ground Zero, there was a minute’s silence at 8:46am, the moment the first of two hijacked airliners struck the World Trade Center.

In all, four planes were hijacked by al-Qaida militants who used them to topple the trade center’s twin towers and hit the Pentagon.

The fourth plane, Flight 93, crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

“It was the worst attack on our country since Pearl Harbor and even worse because this was an attack on civilians — innocent men, women and children whose lives were taken so needlessly,” Trump said.

The attacks remain the deadliest on US soil, plunging the US into a chain of rolling wars against Islamic militants, in which Trump has vowed to give no quarter.

Next year, Americans who were born after 9/11 are due to be deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq for the first time.

“We’re ensuring that they never again have a safe haven to launch attacks against our country,” Trump said.

“We are making plain to these savage killers that there is no dark corner beyond our reach, no sanctuary beyond our grasp and nowhere to hide anywhere on this very large earth.”

AFP

At Ground Zero, relatives held photos and read the names of the loved ones they lost. 

Every September 11 since the attack, Rob Fazio has come to the place where his father, Ronald Carl Fazio, and thousands of others died. 

“I’ll come every year for the rest of my life,” he said. “It’s where I get my strength.”

At least 1,000 family members, survivors, rescuers and officials were gathered as the ceremony at the World Trade Center began.

After the minute’s silence and the tolling of bells, relatives began reading out the names of the people killed.

Some said they couldn’t believe 16 years had passed since a tragedy that still seemed so present. To others, it was an occasion to plead for a return to the sense of unity they felt after the attacks.

“Our country came together that day. And it did not matter what color you were, or where you were from,” said a tearful Magaly Lemagne, who lost her brother, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey police officer David Prudencio Lemagne. She implored people to “stop for a moment and remember all the people who gave their lives that day.

“Maybe then we can put away our disagreements and become one country again.”

Nicholas Haros Jr saw a glimpse of that cohesiveness in the country’s response to catastrophic recent hurricanes Irma and Harvey. 

“God bless, and be New York strong,” Maureen Tipping-Lipshie urged those affected by Irma after she remembered her brother, John James Tipping II.

Some name-readers added messages ranging from the universal to the personal — updates on family graduations and marriages, memories of personality traits and favorite foods.

Some have never even met the relatives they lost.

“I wish more than anything that I could have met you,” Ruth Daly said, her voice breaking, after she read names in remembrance of her slain grandmother, Ruth Sheila Lapin. “I’m very proud to be your namesake. I hope you’re watching down on me from heaven.”

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, were hosting a private observance for victims’ relatives at the Pentagon.