Queens Woman Pitches Ticker Tape Parade For 9/11 First Responders

By ERICA PITZI

PIX11.com

12:07 p.m. EDT, September 14, 2011
QUEENS, N.Y. (WPIX)— If one woman gets her way, there will be a ticker tape parade right along Broadway at the Canyon of Heros, for the first responders of 9/11.

The day would be May 25, 2012 -- marking 10 years after the last piece of steel was removed from Ground Zero.

"They didn't think about if they were going to live or die, they are the reason that area exists in the beautiful way it exists today," said Jill Singer.

This confident Queens woman committed to bringing the community together to show gratitude for the first responders.

Singer says the idea came to her while watching a Yankee game last month. She remembers attending the ticker tape parade when the Yanks won the World Series two years ago.

"They are called heros, 9/11 responders are called heros, why can't the city say thank you through a ticker tape parade?" asked Singer.

So she pitched her idea to Community Board 1 this week and it passed. World Trade Center Committee Chair Catherine McVay Hughes voted in favor.

"I've lived here for two decades, over looking other ticker tapes for sport championships," said Hughes. "But it's about time, we actually have a ticker tape parade for our real heros."

Real heros like TJ Gilmartin, Singer's boyfriend, whom she met last year, while fighting for first responders rights in Washington.

Gilmartin spent two straight weeks working on the rubble of the World Trace Center and welcomes the idea of a parade.

"It would lift the spirits. Nobody is asking for any money, just a thank you," said Gilmartin. "The greatest city in the world can't say thank you to the guys who ran in, meanwhile everybody else ran out?"

Mayor Michael Bloomberg still has to give his nod of approval, and NYPD has to approve a parade permit.
http://www.wpix.com/news/local/wpix-911-ticker-tape-parade,0,5197099.story

Police Search Trucks in New York City on Terror Threat

New York police increased security, including vehicle checkpoints in midtown Manhattan and armed guards in front of the Office of Emergency Management, after receiving credible information that terrorists may be plotting an attack in the city around the Sept. 11 anniversary.

Police cruisers took up positions on a midtown block of Lexington Avenue this morning as officers stopped trucks and other vehicles for inspection. Drivers were made to open the storage spaces of delivery trucks for police. In Brooklyn, U.S. marshals armed with machine guns guarded the federal courthouse and increased security was observed in front of the nearby city emergency management office.

“We have already had a full complement of people working shifts because of the Sept. 11 anniversary prior to this,” said Jim Margolin, a spokesman for the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New York office. “We are taking the logical investigative measures to assess this threat.”

The threat concerns a possible al-Qaeda-sponsored attack targeting New York or Washington on or near the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attack, said a U.S. official, who wasn’t authorized to discuss the matter publicly. The official said the intelligence concerns a possible vehicle-borne attack, perhaps on a transportation hub or bottleneck, and cautioned that the options may be broader than a car or truck bombing.

Interest in Anniversaries
“As we know from the intelligence gathered from the Osama bin Laden raid, al-Qaeda has shown an interest in important dates and anniversaries, such as 9/11,” Janice Fedarcyk, the FBI’s assistant director in charge of the New York office, said at a press conference yesterday. “In this instance, it’s accurate that there is specific, credible but unconfirmed information. We take all threats reported seriously and have taken and will continue to take all steps necessary to mitigate all threats as they arise.”

New Jersey’s Director of Homeland Security Charles McKenna said the threat involves two foreigners traveling into the U.S., where they may join a third party who is already here to carry out the attack. McKenna said New Jersey officials are concerned that as New York and Washington are “hardened targets,” the would-be attackers may turn to New Jersey as a back-up option.

McKenna said the state has increased security, though he declined to specify what steps have been taken.

No Surprise
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, speaking at a meeting of administration officials in Princeton, said people should not alter their plans and lives.

“This is nothing that should come to folks as any surprise nor is it something that should cause any panic,” Christie said. “The fact is that we live in a different world.”

On Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four airliners. Two were flown into the twin World Trade Center towers in New York, destroying them; a third hit the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia; and one crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania after passengers attacked the hijackers. More than 3,000 people were killed.

New York police have stopped at least 13 terrorist attacks since 2001, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said. While the killing of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has helped reduce the threat, the mayor said, “The one thing we know is the terrorists have not gone away.”

Foiled Plot
In February 2010, Colorado resident Najibullah Zazi pleaded guilty in Brooklyn federal court to a plot to detonate bombs on New York subways around the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

The Brooklyn federal courthouse has supplemented its usual security, said James Elcik, supervisor deputy U.S. marshal.

“We’re here to protect the building, and more importantly the people in it around the anniversary of 9/11 given the non- specific threat,” Elcik said, standing next to an armed guard on Adams Street, where tourists and bicyclists entered the pedestrian path over Brooklyn Bridge.

Elcik said it hadn’t been decided whether the extra security would also be in place Monday and throughout next week.

“The safety of our federal judiciary and security in the U.S. courthouses continue to be a top priority of the U.S. Marshals Service,” said Roland Ubaldo, a spokesman for Joseph Guccione, the U.S. Marshal of the Southern District of New York. “We take all threats reported seriously and we have taken and will continue to take all steps necessary to mitigate any threats that arise.”

Police Stand Guard
At the subway station in the Port Authority bus terminal at 42nd Street, two police officers stood guard at the turnstiles while two others patrolled the platform. Police officers in a group of four stood on the platform at Broadway and Murray streets in Lower Manhattan giving directions to tourists making their way to and from Ground Zero four blocks south.

“We have threats all the time,” Bloomberg said today during his weekly appearance on WOR radio, after having taken the subway to City Hall from his Upper East Side home. “Each time we increase our security, which obviously we had done for this. Are we increasing a little more? Yes, we’re increasing a little more but there’s a limit to how much you can have, just because you can’t have a cop on every corner. But remember, a lot of the precautions we take, you don’t see.”

Specific Threat
New York Republican Congressman Peter King, who heads the House Homeland Security Committee, said he was briefed on the threat, which he said was specific and credible.

“All appropriate agencies, the federal government, and state officials and local officials as well, are tracking it down to see if it is real, and if so, how do we stop it,” King said.

Another intelligence official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said the information hasn’t been fully vetted.

Terrorists view the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks as an opportunity to strike again, the FBI’s Fedarcyk said.

The information of a new plot was specific and credible, though not corroborated, she said at a press conference yesterday with Bloomberg.

In the Washington metropolitan area today, Montgomery County, Maryland, police patrolled the Silver Spring and Forest Glen Metro platforms, north of the city.

Extend Shifts
New York police officers will extend their shifts by four hours at least through Sept. 12, said Commissioner Ray Kelly. Police will increase vehicle checks and monitoring of bridges and tunnels, Kelly said. Police will also increase baggage screenings in subways, patrol outside places of worship and government buildings and conduct bomb sweeps of public garages.

“We will deploy quick-reaction teams consisting of heavily armored officers,” Kelly said.

“Sky Watch” towers will be manned, license plate readers monitored and all manhole covers inspected and sealed. City landmarks, including Grand Central Terminal and Pennsylvania Station, will have heightened security as well as other major events Sunday, including the U.S. Open tennis tournament in Queens.

A heavily guarded “frozen zone” is being created from West Street to Broadway and Murray to Albany streets in Lower Manhattan. Several streets in the area will be closed during the weekend, including northbound West Street from Battery Place to Murray Street and southbound West Street from Battery Place to Chambers Street. Church Street between Rector and Barclay streets will be closed 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Bomb Technicians
To assist the police, the FBI will mobilize specialized teams, including special agents, bomb technicians and SWAT and hazardous materials crews.

Richard Adamonis, a NYSE Euronext spokesman, declined to comment on security measure for the stock exchange on Wall Street.

President Barack Obama, who is scheduled to attend ceremonies at Ground Zero on Sept. 11 with former President George W. Bush, was briefed on the threat today by National Security Adviser Tom Donilon, White House counterterrorism adviser John Brennan, and Deputy National Security Adviser Denis McDonough before leaving for a speech in Richmond, Virginia, White House press secretary Jay Carney said.

Obama directed counter-terrorism officials to redouble their efforts, which had already been increased in advance of the Sept. 11 anniversary, Carney said.

The first intelligence official said the report is credible largely because of al-Qaeda’s longstanding interest in important anniversaries and symbolic targets.

Intense Focus
“Sometimes this reporting is credible and warrants intense focus,” Matt Chandler, a U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesman, said in a statement. “Other times it lacks credibility and is highly unlikely to be reflective of real plots under way.”

“Regardless, we take all threat reporting seriously, and we have taken, and will continue to take all steps necessary to mitigate any threats that arise,” Chandler said.

Attorney General Eric Holder said in May that intelligence retrieved from the compound in Pakistan where bin Laden was killed suggested that he wanted to harm people around the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

The mayor is the founder and majority owner of Bloomberg News parent Bloomberg LP.

To contact the reporters on this story: Henry Goldman in New York at hgoldman@bloomberg.net; Tiffany Kary in Brooklyn at tkary@bloomberg.net; Patricia Hurtado in New York pathurado@bloomberg.net.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-09/-credible-terrorist-threats-received-new-york-mayor-bloomberg-says.html
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Mark Tannenbaum at mtannen@bloomberg.net; Michael Hytha mhytha@bloomberg.net

Thousandsof NYPD officers to secure Ground Zero for Anniversary

Associated Press
NEW YORK — There are no specific terror threats against New York City but the NYPD still plans a major show of force for 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said Wednesday that police will form a frozen zone around the World Trade Center site. They'll flood it with thousands of extra officers for the Sunday observance there with President Barack Obama and former President George W. Bush in attendance.

The beefed up security also will include hundreds of surveillance cameras trained on the site.

The commissioner said the department will deploy "quick strike reaction forces" to respond to potential threats outside lower Manhattan. The teams include officers in heavy armor, bomb squad technicians and hostage negotiators.

New Yorkers also will see extra subway patrols.

http://online.wsj.com/article/AP3798ef60be654ec188ae3aead0df894d.html

First Reponders at Ground Zero not Covered For Cancer Treatment

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Ralph and Barbara Geidel have spent close to $100,000 on his medical treatment since 2003, when the former fireman and 9/11 first responder was first diagnosed with tongue and neck cancer.

"We've already used up all of our savings," said his wife, Barbara. "We're now living paycheck to paycheck."

The Geidels were hoping to finally get some health insurance help with their mounting medical bills, when President Obama earlier this year signed into law the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.

The Zadroga Act, also known as the First Responders Bill, sets aside $1.5 billion in federal and New York City funds to cover all costs for treating certain 9/11-related illnesses, and $2.7 billion in compensation for victims who suffered economic hardship as a result of the attacks.

But the law hasn't done a thing for the Geidels when it comes to filling the health insurance gap, because cancer is not one of the medical conditions currently approved to be covered by the fund.

Illnesses that are eligible for full coverage include asthma, lung disease, chronic cough syndrome, laryngitis, sleep apnea, sinusitis, digestive disorders, depression, post traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, which is administering the fund, there isn't enough scientific evidence linking cancer in first responders to their exposure to toxic substances from the 9/11 attacks.

The fund took effect on July 1, and since then it has received 86 applications, enrolled 25 people and paid out just over $1 million dollars in claims.

"This bill was rushed. It should have included coverage for cancer," said Barbara Geidel, expressing a view widely held by cancer stricken first responders and their families.

New research
A new study released Thursday by The Lancet medical journal examines the link between the incidence of cancer and exposure to 9/11 related substances, and seems to support her point.

It tracked 9,853 firefighters and found that those who were exposed to substances at Ground Zero are 19% more likely to develop cancer than firefighters who were not exposed.

Firefighters responding to 9/11 at increased cancer risk
Ralph Geidel, 54, retired from the FDNY in 1985 and moved to California to mine for gold. It was there that he met his wife Barbara. He returned to New York on Sept. 14, 2001, to rejoin his former unit Rescue Co. 1 and search for his brother Gary, also a firefighter who was in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11.

He's currently on a cross-country trip from California to Ground Zero on his Harley-Davidson, which is his way to honor his brother and find closure.

Ralph worked 36 straight hours when he first got to New York three days after 9/11, and then for months after that at Ground Zero.

Hounded by bill collectors
He has health insurance through the FDNY. But after his cancer diagnosis, he returned to California and was treated by specialists who were out of network and therefore not covered by his insurance.

That meant the Geidels had to pay much more out of pocket for Ralph's cancer treatments, including radiation and surgeries.

Although his doctors haven't clearly established the link between exposure to 9/11 toxins and his cancer, Barbara said one specialist did tell the couple that the toxins were probably what caused his type of cancer to show up at a much younger age than it typically does.

"His oncologist said this type of cancer is seen in a 60 -70 year old who's a heavy smoker and drinker," she said, adding that her husband was diagnosed at 44 and is neither a heavy drinker or smoker

Look, we're tired of begging for help. We're hounded by bill collectors. We're not asking for a handout. We're asking for a hand," said Barbara.

It's a different story for Chris Doran, 42, a first responder and former New York City police officer who called the Zadroga Act a huge relief.

In the 10 years since the terror attacks, Doran has suffered many sleepless nights thanks to his injuries and his medical bills.

But now, he says, "the government is paying for all of my therapy and medications."

Prior to the Zadroga Act, Doran was struggling to pay the steep out-of-pocket costs for treating post-traumatic stress disorder and a sinus condition so severe that it has required five sinus operations.

Companies in the Twin Towers: Before and after
"I went there on Sept. 14 but I didn't last very long," said Doran. After 14 hours at Ground Zero, his blood pressure shot up and he couldn't breathe.

He didn't return to Ground Zero after that. Three years later, Doran retired from the New York Police Department, moved to Texas and hasn't worked since.

Fortunately, Doran continued to get health insurance through the NYPD. But because his income dropped substantially after retiring, he too struggled to pay his out-of-pocket medical costs.

"I was paying $7,000 a year for medications. I had to file for bankruptcy," he said. Doran has also attempted suicide twice.

Under the Zadroga Act, all of Doran's medical costs will be paid for by the government because his illnesses are approved for coverage by the fund.

The bill isn't perfect, said John Feal, a first responder who founded the first responder advocacy group Feal Good Foundation in 2005, but at least it's a start.

"When this bill passed, my first words were 'This is good,'" he said. "But I give it a six out of 10."

Feal hopes that an amendment is made to the Act soon to cover cancer, and the agency has said it will continue to review its policy on cancer coverage as new research and findings are released. Such a review is expected early to mid-2012.

"These first responders are heroic people who are financially devastated because of their illnesses," he said.

First Published: September 2, 2011: 5:55 AM ET
http://money.cnn.com/2011/09/02/news/economy/911_health_insurance/index.htm

San Diego on Alert for 9/11 Anniversary

Reporting from San Diego -- With the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks approaching, San Diego political and law enforcement officials launched a campaign Wednesday to warn residents to look for signs of terrorist planning.

"Al Qaeda and others have always had a fascination with significant dates in history," Keith Slotter, special agent in charge of the San Diego office of the FBI, told a news conference.

Public service announcements are scheduled for local television stations warning residents to be on the alert and to contact police if they see anything suspicious.

A locally produced six-minute video titled "The Eight Signs of Terrorism" is posted on a county government website: http://www.ReadySanDiego.org.

San Diego's proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border and the presence of numerous military bases require an extra level of vigilance, said San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, a former police chief.

The eight warning signs were compiled by the San Diego Joint Terrorism Task Force and the federal Department of Homeland Security. The department has begun a national campaign, "If You See Something, Say Something."

Among the signs of possible terrorism: People appearing to watch potential targets to gain information and people impersonating law enforcement officers or letter carriers.

Other signs include people using cash for large purchases; people buying large quantities of products such as fertilizer, weapons or uniforms; and people appearing to rehearse an attack or moving equipment or supplies into position.

"When in doubt, call law enforcement," San Diego County Sheriff William Gore said. "We'll handle it.... We're not targeting any particular group, we're looking at suspicious activity regardless of who is doing it."

San Diego Police Chief William Lansdowne recalled the police and firefighters who dashed into the second building of the Twin Towers when it was struck by a plane.

"Remember what happened on 9/11 and show that level of courage," he said.

Three of the hijackers who flew a plane into the Pentagon had lived in San Diego. Two of the three had taken flying lessons in San Diego.

In the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, there was criticism about lack of coordination and sharing of information between federal and local law enforcement and U.S. intelligence agencies.

Without directly mentioning that criticism, officials at Wednesday's news conference said that coordination has improved.

"We've never been more prepared," Lansdowne said.

tony.perry@latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0825-terrorism-20110825,0,4826580.story

50 TV Programs dedicated to 9/11 Anniversary

The 10th anniversary of 9/11 is the focus of stepped-up media coverage, with more than 50 programs dedicated to the event. What to watch? Here's our channel-by-channel guide.

MNN.COM›Lifestyle›Arts & Culture
Remembering 9/11: A guide to the 10th anniversary on TV
The 10th anniversary of 9/11 is the focus of stepped-up media coverage, with more than 50 programs dedicated to the event. What to watch? Here's our channel-by-channel guide.
By Gerri MillerWed, Aug 24 2011 at 10:51 AM EST

Every year since 2001, networks and news organizations have commemorated the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks with specials and documentaries, dramas and retrospectives. This year, the 10th anniversary of the Al Qaeda-perpetrated tragedy that claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pa., is the focus of stepped-up media coverage, with more than 50 programs dedicated to the event. What to watch? We help you sort them out with this channel-by-channel guide.

ABC
Beginning at 8 AM ET on Sept. 11, Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos anchor three hours of live coverage, “9/11: America Remembers Ten Years Later.” That night, “Primetime” presents the special edition “Remembrance and Renewal—10 Years After the 9/11 Attacks” (Sept. 11, 10 p.m.).

CBS
Six hours of coverage on the anniversary includes the special "9/11: America Remembers," anchored by Scott Pelley from Ground Zero (8 a.m. EST), followed by "Face the Nation" from the same location. An all-9/11 edition of "60 Minutes" airs that night (7 p.m.) followed by "9/11: Ten Years Later." "The Early Show" and "CBS Evening News" will emanate from Ground Zero all weekend.

NBC
Eleven of the 3,000 kids who lost a parent in the attacks speak out in "Children of 9/11," which follows a year in their lives (Sept. 5, 10 p.m.). Tom Brokaw hosts a two-hour 9/11 "Dateline" (Sept. 8, 9 p.m.). Incorporating the three official memorial ceremonies, "America Remembers" will air the morning of Sept. 11 (8 a.m. EDT/5 a.m. PDT), and that evening Brian Williams anchors "NBC Nightly News" from Ground Zero (6:30 p.m.).
MNN.COM›Lifestyle›Arts & Culture
Remembering 9/11: A guide to the 10th anniversary on TV
The 10th anniversary of 9/11 is the focus of stepped-up media coverage, with more than 50 programs dedicated to the event. What to watch? Here's our channel-by-channel guide.
By Gerri MillerWed, Aug 24 2011 at 10:51 AM EST

NEVER FORGET: Firefighters display a flag at the Pentagon on Sept. 12, 2001. (Photo: Flickr)
Every year since 2001, networks and news organizations have commemorated the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks with specials and documentaries, dramas and retrospectives. This year, the 10th anniversary of the Al Qaeda-perpetrated tragedy that claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pa., is the focus of stepped-up media coverage, with more than 50 programs dedicated to the event. What to watch? We help you sort them out with this channel-by-channel guide.

ABC
Beginning at 8 AM ET on Sept. 11, Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos anchor three hours of live coverage, “9/11: America Remembers Ten Years Later.” That night, “Primetime” presents the special edition “Remembrance and Renewal—10 Years After the 9/11 Attacks” (Sept. 11, 10 p.m.).

CBS
Six hours of coverage on the anniversary includes the special "9/11: America Remembers," anchored by Scott Pelley from Ground Zero (8 a.m. EST), followed by "Face the Nation" from the same location. An all-9/11 edition of "60 Minutes" airs that night (7 p.m.) followed by "9/11: Ten Years Later." "The Early Show" and "CBS Evening News" will emanate from Ground Zero all weekend.

NBC
Eleven of the 3,000 kids who lost a parent in the attacks speak out in "Children of 9/11," which follows a year in their lives (Sept. 5, 10 p.m.). Tom Brokaw hosts a two-hour 9/11 "Dateline" (Sept. 8, 9 p.m.). Incorporating the three official memorial ceremonies, "America Remembers" will air the morning of Sept. 11 (8 a.m. EDT/5 a.m. PDT), and that evening Brian Williams anchors "NBC Nightly News" from Ground Zero (6:30 p.m.).



PBS
Public broadcasting's extensive slate of 9/11 programming includes a "Frontline" portrait of FBI counterterrorism agent turned World Trade Center security chief — and victim — John O'Neill, called "The Man Who Knew" (Aug. 30, 9 p.m.), an examination of anti-terrorism operations, "Top Secret America" (Sept. 6, 9 p.m.), and "Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero," which addresses spiritual questions (Sept. 7, 10 p.m.). On "Nova," "Engineering Ground Zero" (above) follows the construction of One World Trade Center and the September 11 Memorial and Museum (Sept. 7, 9 p.m.), and on the anniversary date, "PBS Newshour" presents "America Remembers 9/11," examining the significance of the day throughout the nation (8 p.m.), followed by "Great Performances: The New York Philharmonic 10th Anniversary Concert for 9/11," a performance of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection," taped at Lincoln Center.

HBO
Rebroadcasts of the documentaries "Nine Innings From Ground Zero," focusing on the how the Yankees rallied New Yorkers during the post-9/11 World Series, and "In Memoriam: New York City 9/11/01," released on the one-year anniversary, will air several times over the weekend of Sept. 11.

FX
"Rescue Me," the drama series about New York firemen in the aftermath of 9/11 comes full circle in a series finale that bids farewell to a fallen comrade and pays tribute to the heroic FDNY. (Sept. 7, 10 p.m.)

HISTORY CHANNEL
Frantic phone messages and final goodbyes made moments before the towers fell are the basis of "Voices From Inside the Towers" (Sept. 10, 9 p.m.). Focusing on the tragedy's aftermath via archival footage, "9/11: The Days After", will air commercial-free (Sept. 10, 9 p.m.). It's from the filmmakers of the Emmy-winning "102 Minutes that Changed America," which will be simulcast on History, A&E and in 150 countries starting at 8:46 a.m. EST on Sept. 11 — the moment of the first impact at One World Trade Center. "Making the 9/11 Memorial" documents the creation of the "Reflecting Absence" memorial leading up to its unveiling (Sept. 11, 8 p.m.).


MNN.COM›Lifestyle›Arts & Culture
Remembering 9/11: A guide to the 10th anniversary on TV
The 10th anniversary of 9/11 is the focus of stepped-up media coverage, with more than 50 programs dedicated to the event. What to watch? Here's our channel-by-channel guide.
By Gerri MillerWed, Aug 24 2011 at 10:51 AM EST

NEVER FORGET: Firefighters display a flag at the Pentagon on Sept. 12, 2001. (Photo: Flickr)
Every year since 2001, networks and news organizations have commemorated the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks with specials and documentaries, dramas and retrospectives. This year, the 10th anniversary of the Al Qaeda-perpetrated tragedy that claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pa., is the focus of stepped-up media coverage, with more than 50 programs dedicated to the event. What to watch? We help you sort them out with this channel-by-channel guide.

ABC
Beginning at 8 AM ET on Sept. 11, Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos anchor three hours of live coverage, “9/11: America Remembers Ten Years Later.” That night, “Primetime” presents the special edition “Remembrance and Renewal—10 Years After the 9/11 Attacks” (Sept. 11, 10 p.m.).

CBS
Six hours of coverage on the anniversary includes the special "9/11: America Remembers," anchored by Scott Pelley from Ground Zero (8 a.m. EST), followed by "Face the Nation" from the same location. An all-9/11 edition of "60 Minutes" airs that night (7 p.m.) followed by "9/11: Ten Years Later." "The Early Show" and "CBS Evening News" will emanate from Ground Zero all weekend.

NBC
Eleven of the 3,000 kids who lost a parent in the attacks speak out in "Children of 9/11," which follows a year in their lives (Sept. 5, 10 p.m.). Tom Brokaw hosts a two-hour 9/11 "Dateline" (Sept. 8, 9 p.m.). Incorporating the three official memorial ceremonies, "America Remembers" will air the morning of Sept. 11 (8 a.m. EDT/5 a.m. PDT), and that evening Brian Williams anchors "NBC Nightly News" from Ground Zero (6:30 p.m.).



PBS
Public broadcasting's extensive slate of 9/11 programming includes a "Frontline" portrait of FBI counterterrorism agent turned World Trade Center security chief — and victim — John O'Neill, called "The Man Who Knew" (Aug. 30, 9 p.m.), an examination of anti-terrorism operations, "Top Secret America" (Sept. 6, 9 p.m.), and "Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero," which addresses spiritual questions (Sept. 7, 10 p.m.). On "Nova," "Engineering Ground Zero" (above) follows the construction of One World Trade Center and the September 11 Memorial and Museum (Sept. 7, 9 p.m.), and on the anniversary date, "PBS Newshour" presents "America Remembers 9/11," examining the significance of the day throughout the nation (8 p.m.), followed by "Great Performances: The New York Philharmonic 10th Anniversary Concert for 9/11," a performance of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection," taped at Lincoln Center.

HBO
Rebroadcasts of the documentaries "Nine Innings From Ground Zero," focusing on the how the Yankees rallied New Yorkers during the post-9/11 World Series, and "In Memoriam: New York City 9/11/01," released on the one-year anniversary, will air several times over the weekend of Sept. 11.

FX
"Rescue Me," the drama series about New York firemen in the aftermath of 9/11 comes full circle in a series finale that bids farewell to a fallen comrade and pays tribute to the heroic FDNY. (Sept. 7, 10 p.m.)

HISTORY CHANNEL
Frantic phone messages and final goodbyes made moments before the towers fell are the basis of "Voices From Inside the Towers" (Sept. 10, 9 p.m.). Focusing on the tragedy's aftermath via archival footage, "9/11: The Days After", will air commercial-free (Sept. 10, 9 p.m.). It's from the filmmakers of the Emmy-winning "102 Minutes that Changed America," which will be simulcast on History, A&E and in 150 countries starting at 8:46 a.m. EST on Sept. 11 — the moment of the first impact at One World Trade Center. "Making the 9/11 Memorial" documents the creation of the "Reflecting Absence" memorial leading up to its unveiling (Sept. 11, 8 p.m.).



NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
Devoting a week of prime time to the anniversary starting Aug. 28, Nat Geo will present rebroadcasts with updated footage and new specials including "Inside 9/11: The War Continues," examining terrorism, Al-Qaeda, and the killing of Osama Bin Laden (Aug. 28, 9 p.m.), "George W. Bush: The 9/11 Interview," the most in-depth interview the former president has ever given on the subject (Aug. 28, 10 p.m.), "CIA Confidential: 9/11 Mastermind," about the pursuit of terrorist Khalid Sheik Mohammed (Aug. 29, 10 p.m.), and "9/11: Where Were You?" following people who made critical decisions during the crisis (Aug. 30, 10 p.m.).

DISCOVERY
Produced by Steven Spielberg, the six-hour event "Rising: Rebuilding Ground Zero" chronicles the massive effort that represents the reclamation and renaissance of Lower Manhattan, presented commercial-free Aug. 25-Sept. 1 (8-11 p.m. each night).

A&E
Photographer Andrea Booher tracks down the people she photographed that fateful day in "Portraits From Ground Zero," a commercial-free world premiere (Sept. 10, 10 p.m.).

NICKELODEON
"Nick News with Linda Ellerbee: 'What Happened?: The Story of September 11, 2001'" answers kids' questions and helps them understand the world-changing event (Sept. 1, 9 p.m.).

OWN
Twins who lost a sibling on 9/11 tell their stories in "Twins of the Twin Towers" (Sept. 11, 9 p.m.) and "From the Ground Up" focuses on the widows of firefighters (Sept. 11, 10:15 p.m.).

TLC
"9/11: Heroes of the 88th Floor" recounts the selfless bravery of two men who died saving others in the Twin Towers (Sept. 4, 9 p.m.).
INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY
"ID Investigates: 9/11 Crime Scene Investigators" (above) profiles the NYPD's Crime Scene Unit and its search for survivors and evidence at Ground Zero in the aftermath of the WTC attack (Sept. 4, 9 p.m.).

SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL
A chronological account of the first 18 hours, "9/11: Day that Changed the World" includes interviews with former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Vice President Dick Cheney, and former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld (Sept. 5, 8 & 11 p.m.; Sept. 6, 5 p.m.). Personal objects from victims and survivors represent the bigger picture in "9/11: Stories in Fragments" (Sept. 5, 9:35 p.m.; Sept. 6, 12:35 a.m., 8 p.m.).

ANIMAL PLANET
A 9/11-themed edition of the series "Saved" profiles two New York families impacted by the attacks whose pets helped them deal with their loss (Sept. 7, 9 p.m.).

SHOWTIME
Grounded in New York on 9/11, Paul McCartney (above) thought the best way to help was to stage a benefit concert, the preparation for which — including rehearsals — and portions of the concert itself, are the basis of the documentary "The Love We Make" (Sept. 10, 9 p.m.). Juxtaposed against time-lapse images of the rebuilding of Ground Zero, "Rebirth" movingly tracks five people — a badly burned survivor and four who lost loved ones — in yearly interviews that show how it's possible to heal despite overwhelming loss (Sept. 11, 9 p.m.).

CNN
As noted in the 9/11 Commission Report, eight people who played small but significant roles that day are the subject of "Footnotes of 9/11" (Sept. 6, 11 p.m.). Medical expert Sanjay Gupta reports on the health conditions affecting Ground Zero responders in "Terror in the Dust" (Sept. 7, 11 p.m.) and Soledad O'Brien focuses on female rescue workers in "Beyond Bravery: The Women of 9/11" (Sept. 8, 11 p.m.). "Beyond 9/11: Portraits of Resilience" interweaves photographs and interviews with officials, survivors and first responders (Sept. 9, 11 p.m.).

USA
Oscar winner Melissa Leo (above) plays a flight attendant reluctantly charged with the care of an unaccompanied Pakistani-American boy after they're grounded en route from New York to L.A. on the morning of 9/11 in "The Space Between," airing commercial-free on Sept. 11 (9 p.m.), followed by the Oscar-winning short documentary "Twin Towers," which follows an elite NYPD rescue unit that was to be the subject of a reality series before fate intervened, claiming many of the members' lives.

BIO CHANNEL
"When Pop Culture Saved America" explains how entertainers buoyed and helped heal the nation in the aftermath of 9/11 (Sept. 5, 8 p.m.). "I Survived 9/11" interviews those who escaped death that day (Sept. 6, 8 p.m.) and "Beyond: Messages From 9/11" profiles people who claim to have received messages from deceased loved ones (Sept. 10, 10 p.m.).

FOX NEWS CHANNEL
In "Freedom Rising with Shepard Smith," the anchor focuses on the rebuilding of Ground Zero and the people making it happen (Sept. 2, 9 p.m.). The channel presents all-day coverage of the anniversary on Sept. 11 starting with a two-hour program at 8 a.m. EDT, simulcast on Fox.

MSNBC
Richard Engel and Rachel Maddow report on the decade since 9/11 in "Day of Destruction — Decade of War" (Sept. 1, 9 p.m., repeating Sept. 9, 10, 11). "On Native Soil" focuses on the 9/11 Commissions report (Sept. 10, 3 p.m.; Sept 11, 9 p.m.) and "9/11: In Our Own Words" blends footage and commentary from the reporters that covered the events of the day (Sept. 11, 8 p.m.).

CNBC
A special edition of "American Greed" entitled "9/11 Fraud" focuses on those who seek to illegally profit from tragedy (Sept. 7, 9 p.m.) and on Sept. 10 "The Suze Orman Show" discusses the money lessons of 9/11 (9 p.m., 12 a.m.).


http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/stories/remembering-911-a-guide-to-the-10th-anniversary-on-tv

Al-Qaeda down but not out

By David Ignatius, Published: August 23
Government officials refer to it blandly as the “SSE,” or Sensitive Site Exploitation. That’s their oblique term for the extraordinary cache of evidence that was carried away from Osama bin Laden’s compound the night the al-Qaeda leader was killed.

With the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks a few weeks away, it’s possible to use this evidence to sketch a vivid portrait of al-Qaeda, drawing on material contained in more than 100 computer storage devices, including thumb drives, DVDs and CDs, and more than a dozen computers or hard drives — all collected during the May 2 raid.

U.S. officials say three strong themes emerge from their reading of the files, most of which were communications between bin Laden and his top deputy Atiyah Abd al-Rahman. Indeed, because the Libyan-born Atiyah (who’s known to analysts by his first name) was the boss’s key link with the outside, officials see him as more important than bin Laden’s nominal successor, Ayman al-Zawahiri.

Here are the highlights:

●Bin Laden retained until his death a passion to launch a significant attack against the United States, ideally linked to the 10th anniversary of 9/11. He and Atiyah communicated often about who might carry out such a strike, with Atiyah proposing names and bin Laden rejecting them. Bin Laden was still looking for a history-changing attack on big, economically important targets — one that would match, if not outdo, the impact of 9/11. Zawahiri, by contrast, favored an opportunistic strategy of smaller strikes.

●Bin Laden was a hands-on chief executive, with a role in operations planning and personnel decisions, rather than the detached senior leader that U.S. analysts had hypothesized. Zawahiri, whom the analysts had imagined as the day-to-day leader, was actually quite isolated — and remains so, despite a dozen communications this year. Zawahiri suffers from mistrust between his Egyptian faction of al-Qaeda and other operatives, such as Atiyah.

●Bin Laden was suffering badly from drone attacks on al-Qaeda’s base in the tribal areas of Pakistan. He called this the “intelligence war,” and said it was “the only weapon that’s hurting us.” His cadres complained that they couldn’t train in the tribal areas, couldn’t communicate, couldn’t travel easily and couldn’t draw new recruits to what amounted to a free-fire zone. Bin Laden discussed moving al-Qaeda’s base to another location, but he never took action.

Analysts did not find in the material any smoking gun to suggest Pakistani government complicity in bin Laden’s presence in Abbottabad. And it’s clear he was paranoid about being found and killed: He ordered his subordinates to restrict movements to help preserve what remained of al-Qaeda in Pakistan. Fear of being discovered was a subject of regular conversation between bin Laden, Atiyah, Zawahiri and others.

Bin Laden also worried that al-
Qaeda’s status among Muslims was dwindling, and that the West had at least partially succeeded in distancing al-Qaeda’s message from core Islamic values. Concerned about this eroding base, bin Laden counseled affiliates in North Africa and Yemen to hold back on their efforts to develop a local Islamic extremist state in favor of attacking the United States and its interests.

This fear that al-Qaeda’s extreme tactics were burning too hot and alienating Muslims was also the theme of a remarkable message that Atiyah sent in 2005 to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the murderous chief of al-Qaeda in Iraq. In this document, made public five years ago by the United States, Atiyah warned that fomenting Sunni-Shiite violence (which was Zarqawi’s trademark) was potentially ruinous.

The al-Qaeda that emerges from these documents is a badly battered and disoriented group. The June 3 death of Ilyas Kashmiri in a drone attack illustrates the organization’s continuing vulnerability. Kashmiri was a ruthless operator who planned the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people and was plotting deadly attacks on Europe last winter that were stopped only because of aggressive counterterrorism work. (Security services from Europe and Turkey arrested about 20 of Kashmiri’s operatives before they could carry out the attacks.)

When top U.S. officials summarize their view of al-Qaeda now, in the run-up to the 9/11 anniversary, they describe an organization that is down but certainly not out. They don’t know of any specific plots targeting the United States, 10 years on. But they’re looking, pulsing every channel they know. They recognize that it’s what we still don’t know about al-Qaeda that’s most dangerous.

davidignatius@washpost.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/10-years-after-911-al-qaeda-is-down-but-not-out/2011/08/23/gIQARQ3tZJ_story.html

USS New York "Never Forget" to visit for 9/11 anniversayr

Associated Press
NEW YORK — A Navy ship built with steel from the World Trade Center will anchor off lower Manhattan for ceremonies marking the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer announced Tuesday that the Navy has agreed to bring the USS New York to the state it was named after.

Schumer said the Navy's decision came after weeks of negotiations.

Schumer said in a letter to Navy Secretary Ray Mabus that it would be fitting for those who lost loved ones at the twin towers to be joined by the ship forged with steel from those towers.

The USS New York is an amphibious transport ship built with 7.5 tons of steel salvaged from the trade center. The ship's motto is "Never Forget." It was commissioned in 2009.

—Copyright 2011 Associated Press
http://online.wsj.com/article/APd24ef5b9994c400f9be44c6da4be2319.html

72 POLICE OFFICERS KILLED ON 9/11 TO BE REMEMBERED ON 10TH ANNIVERSARY

It remains the deadliest day in U.S. law enforcement history: 72 peace officers killed in the line of duty during the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, according to the director of Washington, D.C.'s Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

Ten years after that tragic day, these heroic men and women will be remembered during a ceremony at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.

On Friday, September 9, at 10 AM (et), U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr. will join Board members, supporters and staff of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, as well as dignitaries from law enforcement agencies that lost (an) officer(s) on 9/11, at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. for a special ceremony.

The names of the 72 officers are engraved together on Line 23 of Panels 9 through 22 of the Memorial's west wall. Following brief remarks, the officers' names will be read aloud, and a wreath will be laid in their honor.

"Over the past 10 years, the horrific events of September 11, 2001 seem to have faded a bit from our collective consciousness. But the service and sacrifice of the 72 courageous law enforcement heroes who laid down their own lives that day for the safety and protection of others will always be remembered here at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial," said Craig Floyd, CEO of the Memorial.

Among the law enforcement officers who died on 9/11 were 71 killed at the World Trade Center, plus one officer — Richard Guadagno, a sworn refuge manager with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service — who was among the passengers who died in Pennsylvania while fighting to regain control of Flight 93 from the terrorists.

Thirty-seven members of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Force, including its Superintendent, Fred Morrone, died on 9/11; that represents the most fatalities suffered by a single law enforcement agency in one day in U.S. history.

Also killed at the World Trade Center that day were 23 members of the New York City Police Department; five members of the New York State Department of Taxation & Finance; three members of the New York State Office of Court Administration; a special agent with the FBI; a master special officer with the U.S. Secret Service; and a New York City fire marshal who had sworn law enforcement powers.

The names of all 72 officers killed on 9/11 can be found on the Memorial Fund's web site at www.LawMemorial.org/911RollCall. The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial contains the names of 19,298 officers who have died in the line of duty throughout U.S. history.

http://www.thecypresstimes.com/article/News/National_News/72_POLICE_OFFICERS_KILLED_ON_911_TO_BE_REMEMBERED_ON_10TH_ANNIVERSARY/49496

CBS News 9/11 Anniversary Coverage

CBS News Schedules 6 Hours of Special Coverage on 9/11 AnniversaryBy Sunday, September 11, Scott Pelley will anchor CBS News coverage of the national memorial ceremonies for the 9/11 attacks from Ground Zero. “Face the Nation” will originate from Ground Zero immediately following the conclusion of scheduled events.

Both “The Early Show” and the “CBS Evening News” will also be live from Ground Zero beginning Friday, September 9. “60 Minutes” will also be entirely dedicated to 9/11 coverage on Sunday night at 7 pmET/PT, with a feature presentation of “9/11: Ten Years Later,” an updated version of the award-winning film CBS aired on the first and fifth anniversaries of the attacks, to follow.

Visit FishbowlNY, where New York TV and radio personalities reflect on 9/11/01 in our series “9/11: New York Remembers.”


CBS News Will Provide Extensive Coverage Beginning Sept. 9 - Sept. 11 On “The Early Show,” “CBS Evening News,” “Face The Nation,” “60 Minutes” and Across All Platforms Including: CBS Radio News, CBSNews.com, CBS Newspath and CBS News’ Polling and Survey Unit

On Sunday, Sept. 11, CBS Will Dedicate Six Hours of Coverage to Mark the Day, Highlighted by a CBS News Special, “9/11: America Remembers,” Anchored By Scott Pelley from Ground Zero, Beginning at 8:00 AM, ET (Check Local Listings)

CBS News announces division-wide coverage plans to mark 10 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks against the United States. CBS News will provide extensive coverage beginning Sept. 9 – Sept. 11 on THE EARLY SHOW, CBS EVENING NEWS, FACE THE NATION, 60 MINUTES and across all platforms, including CBS Radio News, CBSNews.com, CBS Newspath and CBS News’ Polling and Survey Unit.

Beginning Friday, Sept. 9, CBS News’ THE EARLY SHOW and the CBS EVENING NEWS will broadcast live from Ground Zero in New York City.



On Sunday, Sept. 11, six hours will be devoted to the coverage, beginning with a CBS News special 9/11: AMERICA REMEMBERS, anchored by Scott Pelley (8:00 AM, ET check local listings). Immediately following the coverage of the scheduled events, a special edition of FACE THE NATION will broadcast live from Ground Zero.



In addition, 60 MINUTES (7:00-8:00 PM, ET) will devote the entire broadcast to 9/11 coverage, which will be followed by CBS Television Network and filmmakers Jules and Gedeon Naudet and James Hanlon’s presentation of “9/11: 10 YEARS LATER,” an update of the critically acclaimed, multiple award-winning film, “9/11,” to be broadcast on CBS as a special presentation, Sunday, Sept. 11 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT).



CBS News’ coverage will include personal stories from survivors and family members of some of the victims, as well as reports from CBS News correspondents at the World Trade Center, Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pa.

CBS News’ division-wide programming highlights, beginning Sept. 9, will include the following:

Friday, September 9

• THE EARLY SHOW (7:00-9:00 AM, ET) will provide extensive coverage live from Ground Zero.

• Scott Pelley will anchor the CBS EVENING NEWS (6:30-7:00 PM, ET) from that location.

Saturday, September 10


• THE EARLY SHOW ON SATURDAY (Check Local Listings) will broadcast live from Ground Zero.

• CBS EVENING NEWS will broadcast live from Ground Zero (6:30-7:00 PM, ET).



Sunday, September 11



• Scott Pelley will anchor a CBS News special, 9/11: AMERICA REMEMBERS, live from Ground Zero, beginning at 8:00 AM, ET.



• Immediately following the coverage of the scheduled events, a special edition of FACE THE NATION will broadcast live from Ground Zero.
• 60 MINUTES (7:00-8:00 PM, ET) will devote the entire broadcast to 9/11 coverage.



• The CBS Television Network and filmmakers Jules and Gedeon Naudet and James Hanlon will present “9/11: 10 YEARS LATER,” an update of the critically acclaimed, multiple award-winning film, “9/11,” to be broadcast on CBS as a special presentation (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT). For more on this special go to: http://www.cbspressexpress.com/div.php/cbs_entertainment/release?id=28857
• CBS Radio News will offer expanded programming and feature reports, including a five-part series, “Justice In a Time of Terror.” CBS Radio News will also present special short-form reports and long-form weekend roundup: “9/11: America Remembers,” as well as live anchored coverage of the events in NY, DC and PA.



• In addition to a live webcast of Sept. 11 events, CBSNews.com will provide archival footage of CBS News coverage of Sept. 11 and the weeks after, as well as original reports looking forward and back at the impact of the attacks.



• CBS Newspath, the network’s 24-hour news service to its owned stations and affiliates in the U. S. and around the globe, will provide live reports from Ground Zero beginning Friday, Sept. 9 through Monday, Sept. 12. Additionally, CBS Newspath will have a correspondent live at Ground Zero beginning at 5:00 AM, ET on Sept. 11.



• CBS News’ Polling & Survey Unit will present exclusive poll results and statistical analysis.

Emergency Responders Ready To Protect Florida for 9/11 Anniversary

Hundreds of emergency responders discussed plans to keep South Florida safe from terrorism and other threats during the quarterly summit of the Southeast Regional Domestic Security Task Force.

The meeting on Thursday at the Marriott in West Palm Beach covered preparations to secure the area during the 10th anniversary of 9-11.

Hundreds of agencies plan to have extra people working around the clock in the days leading up to the anniversary, including ocean crews escorting cruise ships arriving and leaving local ports

Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, chairman of the task force, kicked off the all-day event that joined law enforcement and emergency responders from Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/fl-domestic-security-task-force-20110818,0,5313037.story

NYPD Heighten Alert for "Lone Wolf" on 9/11 Anniversary

NEW YORK (WCBS 880) – The NYPD is strengthening its safety net around the city as the 9/11 anniversary approaches and the city’s top cop says he’s very concerned about an attack timed to coincide with the memorials.

in New York City. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Reporting Marla Diamond

LISTEN: WCBS 880′s Marla Diamond reports

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/08/18/police-commissioner-ray-kelly-nyc-on-heightened-alert-for-911-anniversary/

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly says the city has not received any specific threats, but is on heightened alert for the 9/11 anniversary.

“We have to be concerned,” Kelly said. “Osama bin Laden spoke about some event on September 11, 2011 twice in the last two years.”

Kelly says bin Laden’s death is not a game changer


Kelly says some of the avengers may be so-called lone wolves, radicallized by what they read online.

President Barack Obama has also said a “lone wolf” terror attack in the U.S. is more likely than a major coordinated effort like the September 11 attacks

National Anti-Terror Campaign Launched Ahead of 9/11 Anniversary

As the 10-year anniversary of the 9-11 terror attacks approaches, the Department of Homeland Security has launched a national television campaign to remind citizens to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to authorities.

The government agency announced the public-service campaign in a blog post Wednesday by Secretary Janet Napolitano. "As I've said in the past, hometown security is the key to homeland security," she wrote. "Time and again, we've seen terrorist attacks thwarted by alert individuals who notify authorities when something just doesn't seem right ... security is a shared responsibility and we all have a role to play."

The TV spots are inspired by a local campaign that began across New York subways and buses in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks. The Big Apple's Metropolitan Transit Authority owns the rights to the campaign idea -- and its memorable tagline, "If You See Something, Say Something" -- and has licensed that tagline to Homeland Security for its anti-terror and anti-crime efforts. The MTA's work has proved successful, and was credited with thwarting a potentially deadly attack in New York's Times Square last May.

In one of the national spots (watch below), a woman exits a cab at a train station only to walk in and drop off a bag unattended. With dark, thumping music in the background, the voiceover says: "Maybe you see something suspicious but you don't want to get involved. 'It's nothing,' you think. Can you be sure?"

Along with the TV spots, the the department is running two 30-second radio ads to help raise awareness; one takes place is a shopping mall setting and another at a sporting event.

It's unclear if the radio and TV ads were created internally or with the help of an agency; Homeland Security representatives didn't respond to a request for comment by press time.


While the ads don't reference the 9/11 attacks or other terror attempts specifically, it's clear the U.S. government is on heightened alert in the weeks before the 10th anniversary of the biggest terrorist attack on U.S. soil. The launch of the campaign comes just a day after President Barack Obama, in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, said he's especially concerned by the potential of a "lone-wolf" terrorist incident similar to the one that caused mayhem in Norway last month

http://adage.com/article/news/feds-launch-national-anti-terror-tv-campaign-ahead-9-11/229342/

NYPD Dedicated to Fighting Terrorism as 9/11 Anniversary Approaches

As we approach the 10th anniversary of the destruction of the World Trade Center, the question of New York's vulnerability to terror attacks is again in the forefront of public discussion.

While the NYPD's main focus has been and continues to be conventional crime fighting, we devote considerable resources to deterring another attack.

In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, many thought another terrorist attack on New York was inevitable.

While the NYPD never subscribed to that notion, we knew that Al Qaeda and its adherents kept New York at the top of its target list and plotted feverishly to come back and kill New Yorkers.

There have been 13 plots against New York that have been thwarted by either the great work of our Federal partners, NYPD officers, just plain luck, or a combination of all three. They were:

-- Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's plot to take down the Brooklyn Bridge a year after the destruction of the World Trade Center was abandoned only after Al Qaeda operative Iyman Farris found security at the bridge made it too difficult to attack.

-- The December 2002 plot to disperse cyanide gas in the subway system. It was called off at the last minute by Iyman Zawahiri for what he said was "something bigger."

-- Al Qaeda's Al Hindi plotted against the New York Stock Exchange, Citigroup Headquarters in midtown Manhattan and the Prudential Center in New Jersey.

-- The Parachas, father and son, abetted Al Qaeda in what was ultimately believed to be a plan to use shipping containers to smuggle explosives -- possibly even a nuclear device -- into Manhattan's Garment District.

-- An undercover NYPD police officer helped disrupt a 2004 plot to bomb the Herald Square subway station by lone-wolf admirers of Al Qaeda.

-- Other Al Qaeda sympathizers plotted to bomb fuel storage tanks at JFK International Airport and blow up the Buckeye pipeline that transports jet fuel from New Jersey to JFK and LaGuardia via Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens.

-- The plot to flood Manhattan's financial district by simultaneously bombing the PATH subway and the retaining wall at the World Trade Center site.

-- A British-based plot to destroy seven commercial aircraft over the Atlantic Ocean or fly one or more of them into East Coast targets, including New York City.

-- A plot to bomb a Manhattan-bound LIRR commuter train was discussed at the highest levels of Al Qaeda operational leadership.

http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-08-07/local/29878464_1_ahmed-ferhani-najibullah-zazi-plot

Firefighters Not Invited to Ground Zero on 9/11 Anniversary

Firefighters and other responders will be on the outside looking in when a ceremony is held marking the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks next month, according to The Daily News.

A city official told the newspaper that that the amount of space at the new memorial and security logistics have forced to city to schedule a separate ceremony for responders on a later date.

Family members of the nearly 3,000 killed in the attacks were invited, along with President Barrack Obama and former president George W. Bush.

"To have a separate service on another day has no significance, no meaning," David Jacobs, who volunteered at the site sifting debris, told the newspaper. "For many of us, we gave a lot at that site."

His childhood friend, a city firefighter, died in the attacks.

In previous years, responders were welcomed at the site, but little construction had begun and space wasn't an issue.

One construction worker told 1010 WINS that he believes they should be invited this year.

"I think that they should be allowed to go because too many of their brothers and sisters lost their lives and they should be the first ones that are included," he said. "They should make it happen. I'm sure there are going to be a lot of people here who shouldn't be here

An estimated 91,000 police, firefighters and other responders helped with the search and rescue efforts in the wake of the attacks

http://www.firehouse.com/news/911news/responders-not-invited-memorial-911-anniversary

CNN Original Documentaries Marking 9/11 Anniversary

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Soledad O’Brien, Drew Griffin and TIME/HBO Presentation Report: 9/11 Ten Years Later
During the week leading up to the tenth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, CNN will premiere four one-hour productions on its domestic network. In investigations led by chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, investigative correspondent Drew Griffin, and anchor and special correspondent Soledad O’Brien, CNN is reporting new insights into the health consequences experienced by the first responders working at New York’s Ground Zero, examining the events of that day through the eyes of people who were on the front lines of one of America’s most tragic days, and profiling several unsung heroines who saved lives on that day. A fourth presentation from TIME in association with HBO features a collection of TIME magazine oral histories from people who experienced the events of that day as they unfolded, and their reflections as the nation reacted in the days, months, and years afterwards.

“It was a day that changed us all and CNN is leveraging its unmatched resources to cover remembrances from around the nation and the world as we look back on 9/11 and what it means a decade later,” says Bart Feder, senior vice president of programming for CNN. “In addition, these documentaries tell stories we feel will evoke pride in the heroism and bravery of the Americans who risked their lives, and some who sacrificed themselves on that day to save others. And, they present an opportunity to remember the difficult work of first responders – and our servicemen and women on the front lines overseas – who continue to try to keep this nation safe each day.”
On Tuesday, Sept. 6 at 11:00pm (replay on Sunday, Sept. 11 at 8:00pm), CNN will debut FOOTNOTES OF 9/11, featuring interviews with people who went to work on Sept. 11, 2001 – and unexpectedly became part of history. Each of the eight people profiled by investigative correspondent Drew Griffin for this documentary is mentioned in The 9/11 Commission Report – their unique experiences are drawn from the 1,742 footnotes of that report and offer critical detail to the tragic events of that day – are literal and figurative footnotes to one of America’s darkest days. They include ticket agents who checked in some of the terrorists, a maintenance technician who answered a call from one of the planes under attack, and the Lt. Col. in the Massachusetts Air National Guard – also a United Airlines pilot – who scrambled to provide defense to New York, and faced possibly having to shoot down a passenger plane.

On Wednesday, Sept. 7 at 11:00pm (replay on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 9:00pm), DR. SANJAY GUPTA REPORTS: TERROR IN THE DUST, will examine how responders who breathed in the toxic dust and noxious fumes at New York City’s Ground Zero are coping with the health effects of the attacks. The environmental hazards at the World Trade Center disaster site – mercury from fluorescent light bulbs, dioxin and benzene emitted as the jets burned, asbestos from the building materials, and more – have caused severe respiratory ailments, immune problems and, some suspect, a greatly increased cancer risk. Among those who speak to Dr. Gupta are two brothers – firefighters who searched for survivors in the pile of the collapsed towers – one whose lungs are now failing and the other who appears to have had no permanent physical effects. Ten years after the attacks chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta speaks to first responders who continue to experience emotional trauma. Dr. Gupta’s investigation includes never before broadcast footage of the collapse of the Twin Towers, the medical consequences of the killer dust, and safety recommendations for future crisis responses.

BEYOND BRAVERY: THE WOMEN OF 9/11 will air on Thursday, Sept. 8 at 11:00pm (replay on Sunday, Sept. 11 at 9:00pm), and profiles the sometimes overlooked female rescue workers who raced to the Twin Towers in the wake of the attack. Anchor and special correspondent Soledad O’Brien looks at the work of these rescue workers over the decade following their life-altering experiences. Among the stories of these heroic women of New York’s Ground Zero is an African-American firefighter whose company lost seven of the 342 firefighters who died that day. She is pushing to recruit more women to this dangerous job, even as the number of female firefighters has dropped to less than one percent of the NYFD. O’Brien also speaks with the family of a decorated police officer and mother who was photographed rescuing survivors just moments before the collapse of the towers. O’Brien reports the present-day health and emotional struggles of these unsung heroines and hears about their determination to be prepared for the next attack – and to restore hope.

On Friday, Sept. 9 at 11:00pm (with replays on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 8:00pm and 11:00pm), CNN will premiere a special presentation from TIME in association with HBO, BEYOND 9/11: PORTRAITS OF RESILIENCE. Captured in words and moving images, this documentary features untold stories drawn from 40 women and men who led and sacrificed for America in the hours, days, and months that followed the attacks. Working with the editors of TIME, award-winning photographer Marco Grob produced an astonishing set of portraits which are coupled with dramatic recollections from government leaders, survivors of the towers, and first responders.

Kathleen Johnston, Brian Rokus, and Bud Bultman produced FOOTNOTES of 9/11, Stephanie Smith and Roni Selig produced TERROR IN THE DUST, and Rose Arce and Geraldine Moriba produced BEYOND BRAVERY.

CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is the most trusted source for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; CNN Digital Network, the No. 1 network of news Web sites in the United States; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively-syndicated news service; and strategic international partnerships within both television and the digital media

First Responders Not Invited To 9/11 Anniversary Ground Zero Ceremony

First responders who were called to the World Trade Center site in the days and weeks following 9/11 will reportedly be on the outside looking in at next month's anniversary ceremony.

According to the Daily News, police officers, firefighters and rescue workers will not be invited to take part in the primary 10th anniversary ceremony activities.

Instead, they will be asked back at the site another day for a separate ceremony.

The News cites security and a lack of room as the reason of the decision.

The presence of President Barack Obama and former President George W. Bush will create mounting security concerns.

Thousands of family members will also be on hand.

It's estimated as many as 91,000 people took part in the initial search and rescue at the World Trader Center site.

http://www.ny1.com/content/special_reports/911_a_decade_later/144997/report--first-responders-not-invited-to-9-11-anniversary-ceremony

Yahoo!, communities across U.S. to honor 9/11 anniversary

On September 11, 2011, business as usual at Yahoo! will pause for a Digital Moment of Silence to honor those killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. At 8:26 a.m. ET, the moment the first plane crashed into the World Trade Center, normal service on the site will cease for one minute. During that time, Yahoo! will encourage visitors to reflect on the victims of the attack and to share their own stories about how 9/11 affected them. Visitors will also have the opportunity to donate to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum.

Communities across the country will also be honoring those who were lost in the tragedy. Below is a list of how some areas plan to remember the fallen. If your city, town, neighborhood, or civic group is planning to hold a ceremony or a moment of silence to honor the day, share it with us.

New York City: The 9/11 Memorial will officially open on September 11 with a ceremony for victims' families at Ground Zero. The Memorial will then open to the public on the next day for visitors who reserved passes in advance. On September 10, Community Board 1 will hold Hands Across Lower Manhattan, an event open to all on the West Side Waterfront.

Washington, D.C.: Those who died in the attack at the Pentagon will be honored at a ceremony featuring 700 people, including family members of the deceased and members of the military. It will take place at the Pentagon Memorial, which opened in 2008.

Shanksville, Pennsylvania: A commemorative service to honor those who gave up their lives on Flight 93 will take place at 9:30 a.m. ET on September 11 at the Memorial Plaza. Musical tributes, wreath layings, and additional activities will continue throughout the afternoon.

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A Decade, and Counting, of Publicly Mourning 9/11

Carla Gilkerson, a 54-year-old school bus driver, sits at a table with friends at Abner's diner on Main Street in this small Ohio town. She's never been to New York City and doesn't know a soul who died on Sept. 11 — but talk of the terror attacks a decade ago immediately moves her to tears.

Step outside of Abner's and there, across the road at Main and Center Streets, is one of the largest Sept. 11 memorials outside the attack sites; a granite monument etched with all the victims' names, surrounded by four giant pieces of World Trade Center steel.

Gilkerson often walks and bikes past the memorial, stopping to run her finger over the names. "I feel like I knew them," she said. "And that I can keep their memory alive."

A decade of public mourning for the nearly 3,000 people killed in the nation's worst terror attack hasn't abated; in fact, it thrives in this country, from the steel memorial parks to the fake Statue of Liberty outside a Las Vegas casino to a tiny chapel by ground zero. The attacks have spawned a ritual of extravagant public mourning that hasn't waned; even Americans who didn't lose a loved one on Sept. 11 are still grieving as if they had.

Gilkerson says it best: "I think we'll always mourn our losses from that day."


AP
ADVANCE FOR USE SUNDAY, JUNE 26, 2011 AND... View Full Caption
ADVANCE FOR USE SUNDAY, JUNE 26, 2011 AND THEREAFTER - Victor, left, and Ben Ortega, brothers from El Paso, Texas, walk along the September 11 memorial outside the New York, New York Hotel and Casino, Wednesday, June 22, 2011, in Las Vegas. Across the country, an extravagant ritual of public grief for "our losses" has not abated in a decade, from public memorials of steel and photos to the palpable sadness of strangers. Experts say Americans are still processing the most tragic public event of their lifetimes, before they can begin to let go. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) CloseExperts in grief say the outsized sorrow for "our losses" is Americans' way of processing the most devastating public event of their lifetimes, which they need to do before they can begin to let go. "This," says Michael Katovich, a Texas sociology professor who teaches on death and dying, "is a process of solidifying our memories."

They're still grieving in Hilliard, a suburb of the state capital of Columbus, and an eight hour's drive from New York City. None of its 28,000 residents died on Sept. 11, yet the people who live in the new subdivisions and work in the small brick buildings that line the downtown still mourned. Mayor Don Schonhardt was one of the mourners, and he went to New York to ask authorities there for trade center steel for the city's memorial.

"We felt it was important to be a community in middle America that would say to the U.S. and the world, that we do remember what happened that day," Schonhardt said.

The memorial fills a city block in the center of town with its two pieces of rusted track from the subway that ran underneath the World Trade Center, and two other large hunks of twisted metal from the towers themselves.

Las Vegas has a permanent memorial at the fake Statue of Liberty outside the New York, New York-Hotel Casino. There's a rotating exhibit of items that were left at the casino in the days after the attacks. Recently, about a dozen Fire Department and police T-shirts from around the U.S. were on display in the shadow boxes, which are lighted at night. The hundreds of other items are archived and stored at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. In a city of excess and fantasy, the memorial — which is across the street from the MGM Grand casino and its golden Lion statue and from Excalibur, a medieval-themed gambling hall — is a sober reminder of reality, and visitors stop and peer into the shadow boxes while walking from one casino to the next.

EDITOR'S NOTE — Tamara Lush is traveling the country writing about the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/tamaralush.



http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=13933576&page=2

9/11 Memorial Reservations online starting July 11th

With two months to go before its scheduled opening, the 9/11 Memorial in Lower Manhattan will start taking reservations online on Monday morning.

The passes will be free but will be necessary to enter the memorial, which will open to the public on Sept. 12. The ceremony to unveil the memorial is scheduled for Sept. 11, the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attack that destroyed the World Trade Center and killed almost 3,000 people. But only members of the victims’ families will be allowed to visit the memorial that day.

Starting at 9 a.m. Monday, other people interested in visiting the memorial will be able to obtain passes for half-hour blocks of time through the memorial’s Web site, 911memorial.org. At the time printed on their passes, visitors will be cleared to join the line to enter the memorial’s security screening station. But the length of time each pass holder can spend on the memorial plaza will not be limited, said Joe Daniels, president of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum.

On Monday, the memorial will also open a telephone line for reservations for groups of 10 or more, Mr. Daniels said. And each day, a limited number of passes will be available to walk-up visitors at the 9/11 Memorial preview site a couple of blocks away at 20 Vesey Street, he said

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/09/nyregion/911-memorial-reservations-to-be-offered-on-web-site.html