President Bush attended a Saturday prayer service and led a moment of silence in remembrance of the third anniversary the 2001 Sept. 11 attacks in New York and Washington D.C.
In the morning, the President and the first Lady attended a service of prayer and remembrance at St. John’s Episcopal Church where the two lit candles to open the service. The Rev. Luis Leon spoke directly to Bush during his sermon, reminding him, “Part of your role is to be chaplain to this nation,” reported the Associated Press.
He then presided over a moment of silence on the South Lawn of the White House at 8:46 a.m. EDT, the exact time that American Airlines Flight 11 hit the north tower of the World Trade Center three years this day.
Last year, Bush proclaimed Sept. 11 as a national day of prayer and remembrance and as Patriot Day after a total of three terrorist planes attacked, crashing into each of the two World Trade Center buildings, or Twin Towers, in New York City and the United States Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, near Washington D.C. A fourth plane was unsuccessful.
"Americans join together to pray for those who were lost, and for their loves ones," he said Friday in his proclamation. On the third anniversary, said Bush, “We feel the warm courage of national unity - a unity of grief and a unity of resolve.”
"We remember the images of fire, and the final calls of love, and the courage of rescuers who saw death and did not flee. We remember the many good lives that ended too soon. We remember the families left behind to carry a burden of sorrow," continued the President.
“I ask that the people of the United States and places of worship mark these National Days of Prayer and Remembrance with memorial services, the ringing of bells, and evening candlelight remembrance vigils,” he concluded. “I invite the people of the world to share in these Days of Prayer and Remembrance.”
