Moment Of Silence At Ground Zero
COSTELLO: And we are still awaiting Vice President Joe Biden to start speaking in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. But we wanted to take you back to New York; soon there will be another moment of silence when the north tower fell. Remember how surprised we all were and shocked when the tower fell down. It took a long time, too. The north tower was hit by American Airlines Flight 11, 87 people on board that plane, minus the hijackers. That hit before the 9:00 Eastern hour, so you can see how long it took the north tower to fall. And of course, many people died inside that building on that day. Let's pause now to listen. At Ground Zero a break from tradition for the first time, politicians were not invited to speak. Only the families of those killed have been reading the names. CNN's Poppy Harlow joins us again from Ground Zero. I know, Poppy, you spoke to one couple that took part in this ceremony. They lost their son.</s>HARLOW: I did. Bob and Elaine Hughes, and we just at 10:18 a.m. we just heard Elaine Hughes read her son's name. It was very emotional. They lost their 30-year-old son, Chris. He was a trader on the 89th floor of the south tower. And you know, even 11 years later, Carol, for them it's incredibly hard. I want you to take a listen to Bob Hughes and what he had to say when I asked him this morning about his son, Chris.</s>HARLOW: Tell me a little bit about Chris.</s>BOB HUGHES, FATHER OF 9/11 VICTIM: Well, it is really, you know, a fun-loving -- I don't know why --</s>HARLOW: Very hard.</s>HUGHES: He was a very really, you know, loved the outdoors, a fun- loving type of guy, you know, always wanted to work in the financial sector. Unfortunately he worked in the Trade Center, but he was a real outdoors type of guy. You know, great family, you know, son. There were a lot of things you could say, but he loved the outdoors.</s>HARLOW: And you know, Carol, he also told me that there's a much bigger message. He said what he wants people to remember today, and every anniversary, is that we will never be beaten and that's part of why he and his wife come here every single year to remember their son.</s>COSTELLO: It's so touching. Thank you very much, Poppy. Vice President Joe Biden has just taken the podium, you see him there in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Let's listen.</s>JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: -- with all that you plan will happen. Patrick, you're keeping the flame alive and keeping families together is in my experience I imagine you all find solace in seeing one another. There's nothing like being able to talk with someone who you know -- who you know understands. And it's an honor, it's a genuine honor to -- to be back here today. But like all of the families, we wish we weren't here. We wish we didn't have to be here. Wish we didn't have to commemorate any of this. It is -- it is a bittersweet moment for the entire nation, for all of the country. But particularly those family members gathered here today. Last year the nation and all of your family members that are here, commemorated the 10th anniversary of the heroic acts that gave definition to what has made America such a truly exceptional place. Individual acts of heroism of ordinary people in moments that could not have been contemplated, but yet were initiated. I also know from my own experience that today is just as momentous a day for all of you, just as momentous day in your life, each of your families, as every September 11th has been, regardless of the anniversary. For no matter how many anniversaries you experience, for at least an instant, the terror of that moment returns, the lingering echo of that phone call, the sense of total disbelief that envelops you. You feel like you're being sucked into a black hole in the middle of your chest. My hope, my hope for you all is that as every year passes, the depth of your pain recedes and you find comfort, as I have, genuine comfort, in recalling his smile, her laugh, their touch, and I hope you're as certain as I am, as certain as I am, that she can see what a wonderful man her son has turned out to be. Grown up to be. But he knows everything that your daughter has achieved. And then he can hear and she can hear how her mom -- how her mom still talks about her, the day he scored the winning touchdown. How bright and beautiful she was on that graduation day. And know that -- and know that he knows what a beautiful child the daughter he never got to see has turned out to be. And how much she reminds you of him. For I know you see your wife every time you see her smile on her child's face. Remember your daughter, every time you hear her laughter coming from her brother's lips. And you remember your husband, every time your son just touches your hand. I also hope, I also hope it continues to give you some solace, knowing that this nation, all these people gathered here today, were not family members. All your neighbors that they've not forgotten. They've not forgot the -- the heroism of your husbands, wives, sons, daughters, mothers, fathers. And that -- that what they did for this country is still etched in the minds of not only you, but millions of Americans forever. That's why it's so important that this memorial be preserved and go on for our children and our grandchildren and our great- grandchildren and our great-great-grandchildren because it is. It is what makes us so exceptional. And I think they all appreciate, as I do, more than they can tell you, the incredible bravery your family members showed on that day. I said last year my mom used to have an expression, she said "Joey, bravery resides in every heart. And someday it will be summoned." It's remarkable, it's remarkable how it was not only summoned but acted on. Today we stand in this hallowed ground, a place made sacred by the heroism and sacrifice of the passengers and crew on Flight 93, and it's as if the flowers as I walked through, as if the flowers are giving testament to how -- how sacred this ground is. My guess and obviously it's only a guess, no two losses are the same, but my guess is you're living this moment that Yates only wrote about when he wrote, "Pray I will, and sing I must, but yet I weep. Pray I will, sing I must, but yet I weep." My personal prayer for all of you is that in every succeeding year, you're able to sing more than you weep. And may God truly bless you and bless the souls of those 40 incredible people who rest on this ground.</s>COSTELLO: And we just heard Vice President Joe Biden speaking at Shanksville in honor of those 40 people who died aboard Flight 93 that terrible day 11 years ago at 10:03 Eastern Time. We're going to take a short break. We'll be back with much more on the NEWSROOM.