By JENNIFER PELTZ
Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) - The 11th anniversary ceremony of the Sept. 11 terror attacks has begun in New York with a moment of silence to mark the moment that the first hijacked jetliner crashed into the World Trade Center in 2001.
The reading of nearly 3,000 victims' names in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania continued as usual this year. But many felt it was time to move forward after the emotional turning point of last year's 10th anniversary. For the first time in New York, only family members were to speak at the anniversary ceremony. Elected officials had spoken in past years.
Jane Pollicino was among the 300 people who gathered Tuesday morning at the Sept. 11 memorial, which opened last year. She says there's less pressure during this year than the 10th year anniversary.
Commemorations were also scheduled at the Pentagon, where President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama were to attend. Vice President Joe Biden was speaking at a memorial in Shanksville, Pa., where the fourth hijacked jetliner crashed.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Locally, the Walter H. Burt American Legion Post 30, of Albany, is sponsoring the tenth annual patriots' field of flags through September 16.
This is a 9/11 memorial in which a field of 1,000 American flags on eight foot poles, covering just over one acre in area, is erected on the field on the west side of the Albany Mall in front of the outback restaurant.
All, especially children, are invited to visit the field during the week to take pictures, walk through the flags and enjoy a feeling of patriotism.
A memorial program will be presented tonight at 7:00 p.m. Guest speaker will be Colonel Donald J. Davis, commander of Marine Corps Logistics Base, Albany.
There will be patriotic music and Georgians who have died in Afghanistan and Iraq will be remembered. The program will end with rifle and cannon salutes and taps.
A free to the public musical concert by the levee band, a local band and featuring vocalist Jodi Mann, will be Saturday evening, 7:00 p.m., September 15.
A flag honoring or sponsoring someone may be sponsored for $25 and the flag, with a tag with the honored person's name tied to the flag, may be claimed following the week long program.
The Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany hosted a 9/11 Observance at 8:00 a.m., at Schmid Field in front of Building 3500 to commemorate the 11th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. Ryan Houston will have that story later today on WALB.
Copyright 2012 WALB. All rights reserved.
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