President Barack Obama and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, right, meet with firefighters and first responders at Engine 54, Ladder 4, Battalion 9 before visiting the National Sept. 11 Memorial at Ground Zero. (AP)
In an emotional ceremony at Ground Zero, President Obama laid a wreath this afternoon at the site where the World Trade Center once stood and paid tribute to the nearly 3,000 victims of the 9/11 attacks just days after US commandos took out Osama bin Laden.
Obama was accompanied by elected officials from New York, including Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, as he laid a wreath at the foot of the Survivor Tree, which sustained damage during the attack but was freed from the rubble.
After the ceremony, Obama met with 60 family members of 9/11 victims during a private session.
Before heading to lower Manhattan, Obama stopped at a firehouse in Midtown that lost 15 men on 9/11 — more than any other New York firehouse — and had lunch with the firefighters.
“Well, listen, the main reason I came here is because I heard the food is pretty good,” Obama joked when he arrived.
“This is a symbolic site of the extraordinary sacrifice that was made on that terrible day almost 10 years ago,” Obama said, adding that bin Laden’s death sent the message that “when we say we will never forget, we mean what we say.”
“You’re always going to have a president and an administration who has got your back,” said Obama, who was joined by former Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
Obama added that the Navy Seals and CIA team that killed bin Laden “were doing it in the names of your brothers who were lost.”
The firehouse, the home of Engine 54, Ladder 4, Battalion 9, was dubbed the “Pride of Midtown” following the terror attacks. Obama was shown a wall of bronze memorial plaques commemorating the fallen men from the firehouse and then ate lunch with rank-and-file firefighters there.
Outside the firehouse, Amanda Baptiste, 47, who lives in Hells Kitchen, waved an American flag and a T-shirt that read, “Obama got Osama God Bless America.” She said a friend made about 10 of the shirts.
“I was very excited to know that President Obama was coming,” Baptiste said. “I’m happy to catch a glimpse of him. I’m glad that Osama is dead. People can have closure.”
Obama then went to the NYPD’s 1st Precinct stationhouse, before heading to Ground Zero. Inside the stationhouse, Obama joined NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly, Giuliani and about 30 officers.
“It says we keep this in our hearts. We haven’t forgotten. We did what we said we would do,” Obama said. “We never forgot the tragedy. We have never forgotten the loss of life. We’ve never forgotten the courage of the NYPD.”
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney had said Wednesday that Obama wanted to mark the “significant and cathartic moment” that bin Laden’s death represented.
Carney said the president wished to honor 9/11 victims and first responders and “honor the spirit of unity in America that we all felt in the wake of that terrible attack.”
“I think the power of that requires no words,” the press secretary added.
Gov. Cuomo, Mayor Bloomberg, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Giuliani and other dignitaries joined Obama for the ceremony at Ground Zero.
Port Authority director Chris Ward was thrilled with Obama’s visit.
“It’s a day of incredible pride. His leadership in killing Osama bin Laden brings a real sense of relief,” Ward said. “The progress here is symbolic of that effort.”
Obama last visited the site on Sept. 11, 2008 when he was a presidential candidate.
In Washington, Vice President Joe Biden participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Pentagon’s 9/11 memorial and meet privately with 9/11 family members and first responders.
With AP and Newscore
