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Tower 1 burns as a second plane aims for Tower 2, 9/11/01	A double beam of light rises from Ground Zero during a 2004 9/11 memorial.	Plans for newly redesigned 1 World Trade Center, to be completed by 2011.

2009 marks the eighth anniversary of 9/11.

This year, President Obama has officially declared September 11 a federally-recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance. Ceremonies and various volunteer opportunities will be held around the country, especially in New York, and Washington, D.C.

In New York

• 8:46AM: The Bell of Hope rings at St. Paul's Chapel to mark the start of the attack on 9/11.
• 10:30AM: A mass is held at Patrick's Cathedral in honor of the firefighters who fell on 9/11.
• 5:30PM: Secretary of State Hilary Clinton delivers the keynote address at the first annual National Day of Service and Remembrance. The star-studded tribute, taking place at the city's Beacon Theatre, will also feature talk-show host Jimmy Fallon, singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw and actor Gary Sinise.
  
  All day: Concerts will be held throughout the city organized by The September Concert.

In Washington, D.C.

• 9:37AM: A moment of silence is held in Arlington, Va. to remember the victims of September 11. Arlington County will hang U.S. flags from overpasses and buildings in a display of "Flags Across Arlington."
• 9:40AM: A wreathlaying ceremony will take place at the Pentagon Memorial.
  
  All day: Greater DC Cares and Walmart partner to mobilize volunteers at more than 50 nonprofit organizations as part of the region's United We Serve campaign and the National Day of Service.
  

In New York, a major ongoing focus is on plans for the new 1 World Trade Center in downtown Manhattan that replaces the iconic World Trade Center Twin Towers destroyed in terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

Since 2001, rebuilding efforts have been halted by related safety issues, and the painful concerns of survivor families over the World Trade Center Memorial.

More recent controversy arose in 2008 with the renaming in of the central structure from the original "Freedom Tower" to the now more practical 1 World Trade Center.

Commercial reasons were the primary motivation for the name change, say critics, who charge that developers have tried to calm nerves and ensure future rentals by simply renaming the skyscraper 1 World Trade Center.

Today, construction at Ground Zero has begun in earnest. With steel framework rising above downtown by 2009, developers promise the tallest building in New York — 1,776 feet in height to the top of the 1 World Trade Center mast antenna by 2011. However, recent delays have already put the target deadline in doubt.

More about 9/11 around the Web:

On the Web, find out more about the planned reconstruction of the World Trade Center, along with historic photos & video reports from September 11, 2001, including poignant recollections from those who vividly remember the aftershocks of 9/11 ...


Ground Zero Cams - Live views of the World Trade Center area in downtown Manhattan, plus recovery effort photo archive, gallery of related images.

Voices of September 11th - Online clearinghouse for survivor family resources, news updates about the rebuilding program, ongoing memorial tributes at Ground Zero, details on scholarships and charities, related interviews, photos.

September 11 News.com - An extensive archive of images and stories before, during, and after the 9/11 Twin Tower and Pentagon attacks, including newspaper headline and magazine scans of international reaction, personal stories, political speeches, timelines, and more.

September 11 Digital Archive - One-stop browsing for related pictures, audio and video clips, personal stories, documents, interviews, 9/11 FAQ and a comprehensive collection of 9/11 links & resources.

September 11, 2001 attacks - Wikipedia - Complete, hyperlinked history of the attacks at the World Trade Center and Pentagon with historic pictures, related links.

also see -> Conspiracy Theories | Pearl Harbor Day

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