November 20, 2008
McCain, Obama together at Ground Zero
Presidential hopefuls John McCain and Barack Obama -- adversaries any other day -- descended together Thursday afternoon into the pit at Ground Zero with Mayor Michael Bloomberg to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.
McCain, the Republican nominee, and Barack Obama, the Democrat, held roses at the trade center site and greeted a small group of victims' families, firefighters and construction workers. They were accompanied by McCain's wife, Cindy.
Shortly after 4 p.m., both men tossed the flowers into a reflecting pool and stood solemnly in silence for a moment. Then they walked to an honor guard of uniformed emergency responders nearby and shook their hands.
One fire officer attached a commemorative pin to the visitors' lapels.
Related links
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Database of victims
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9/11: Seven years later
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Photos: The attacks, their aftermath and rebuilding
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Read the 9/11 commission report
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Share your thoughts about Sept. 11, 2001, and the ensuing five years.
If the media would stop giving this attention, maybe the 9/11 families could start spending the millions of dollars given to them, and stop costing the city and country millions more in construction delays.
Submitted by Stop whining already!
6:57 AM EST, Nov 6, 2006
Everyday we do not build they have won. It is time to for the families to accept what has happened and move on. Would those you are grieving about want it this way? Or would they want to show the terrorists that nothing can keep the USA Down. Let us all let them build a bigger better New York.
Submitted by I was there too!
6:54 AM EST, Nov 6, 2006
HEY WHAT BOUT THE BILLIONS IN GOLD BARS MISSING FROM WTC 4 VAULT ON 911.GOULIANI JUST A PHONEY WHO ONLY SAVED HIMSELF AND LINED HIS POCKETS.
Submitted by sambo
8:46 AM EST, Nov 2, 2006
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Coverage
The months after the attacks
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Audio
New 9/11 tapes: 'We're all going to die' -
Sept. 11, 2001: Five years later
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Photos: 9/11 fifth anniversary Photos
About 10 minutes later, the four -- Bloomberg, John and Cindy McCain, and Obama -- walked up the ramp away from the site where the Twin Towers stood before hijackers flew planes into the skyscrapers in the worst terrorist attack on American soil.
At street level, McCain and Obama were greeted by a throng of Port Authority Police officers, many of whom said they'd lost friends and comrades. The candidates expressed their appreciation to the officers.
"Thank you, sir," Obama said to one officer in the group. "Good to see you."
"Thank you," one of the officers said to McCain.
"No, thank you," McCain said.
As the candidates prepared to go their separate ways after the brief joint appearance, they shook hands.
"See you soon," McCain said to Obama.
According to a CNN report, Obama's wife, Michelle, was in Chicago with the couple's two daughters.
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