At 3 sites of loss, Obama quietly honors 9/11 dead

On a day of serenity and remembrance, President Barack Obama honored the dead of Sept. 11 with his quiet presence Sunday at the most tangible reminders of both the incredible loss and dauntless resilience of a country rebuilding a decade later.

At New York’s ground zero, Obama touched the names of the lost etched into bronze at a memorial pool created in the footprint of one of the downed World Trade Center towers.

In a field in rural Pennsylvania, he placed a wreath at the marbled Wall of Names memorializing those who crashed at Shanksville after fighting back against the hijackers and driving their plane into the ground.

Then the president headed for a memorial at the Pentagon, where each of the 184 victims is remembered with a bench and small reflecting pool.

This was not a day centered on presidential speechmaking. Rather, Obama’s principal role was simply to be there as the nation paused to remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost and ponder all that has transpired.

At a ceremony at ground zero, Obama read Psalm 46, which he chose because it speaks of perseverance through challenges.

“God is our refuge and strength,” Obama intoned, “a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear.”

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