We have not forgotten: Obama at 9/11 memorial

In what is seen as bringing a closure to an unthinkable terror attack with the killing of 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden in a Pakistan “safehouse”, US President Barack Obama on Thursday placed a memorial wreath at the ground zero, the site of the once sky-kissing World Trade Center towers in lower Manhatten, and said ?we have not forgotten?.

Before laying a wreath of red, blue and white flowers at the 9/11 memorial site here in memory of the 3000 people killed in the al Qaeda attack, President Barack Obama met the survivors of the terror attack at a Manhattan firehouse to remember the tragedy as he visited the the home of Engine Company 54, which lost 15 members in the collapse of the twin towers.

This is the first visit of Obama to ground zero and he bowed remembering the dead in the horrific attack by airplanes. He placed the wreath at the foot of a tree that was replanted there after its recovery from the the gigantic rubble of the attack in 2001.

He was joined by the survivors and sufferers of the attack in an emotional tribute to the attack that later triggered a ten-year-long manhunt for Osama bin Laden and finally ended with the killing of the dreaded terrorist in Pakistan’s Abbottabad in the wee hours of Monday.

Speaking at “Pride of Midtown” Firehouse, Engine 54, Ladder 4, Battalion 9, Obama said: ?This is a symbolic site of the extraordinary sacrifice that was made on that terrible day almost 10 years ago. Obviously we can’t bring back your friends that were lost, and I know that each and every one of you not only grieve for them, but have also over the last 10 years dealt with their family, their children, trying to give them comfort, trying to give them support.?

Speaking at the First Precinct Police Station here Obama said the Abottabad action sent a signal around the world that ?we have never forgotten the extraordinary sacrifices that were made on September 11th.?

? We’ve never forgotten the tragedy. We’ve never forgotten the loss of life. We’ve never forgotten the courage that was shown by the NYPD, by the firefighters, by the first responders,? he said.

?My understanding is all of you were there that day. And I know you?ll never forget. I know it?s hard to fill the hole that occurred as a consequence of you losing folks who you had worked with for so long. But what, hopefully, this weekend does is it says we keep them in our hearts; we haven’t forgotten; we said what we — we did what we said we were going to do; and that Americans, even in the midst of tragedy, will come together, across the years, across politics, across party, across administrations, to make sure that justice is done,? he said.

?And so since that time I know a lot of you have probably comforted loved ones of those who were lost. A lot of you have probably looked after kids who grew up without a parent. And a lot of you continue to do extraordinary — extraordinarily courageous acts without a lot of fanfare,? he said in an emotional speech.

? What we did on Sunday was directly connected to what you do every single day. And I know I speak for the military teams, the intelligence teams that helped get bin Laden in saying that we know the sacrifices and courage that you show as well, and that you are part of the team that helped us achieve our goal, but also help us keep our citizens safe each and every day,? he said.