Ceremonies Mark Fifth Anniversary of 9/11 Attacks

GWEN IFILL: At the White House this morning, Vice President Cheney and his wife, Lynne, were joined by former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher for a moment of silence. Later, at the Pentagon, where 184 people died, a visibly moved vice president spoke to victims' families.

RICHARD B. CHENEY, Vice President of The United States: Surely men and women here and aboard Flight 77 were, in their last moments, holding and comforting one another. And, when we think of them, it will always be with a special feeling of empathy and sorrow. We will always understand the pain of their families. And our nation will forever look with reverence upon their place, this place where their lives ended. We have no intention of ignoring or appeasing history's latest gang of fanatics trying to murder their way to power. The war on terror has placed hard duties on our military and on the Department of Defense. You have done all our country has asked of you, and more. And you know better than most that much hard work and sacrifice still lay ahead.

GWEN IFILL: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld also linked his anniversary reflections to the broader international fight against terrorism.

DONALD RUMSFELD, Secretary of Defense: I remember working -- working our way through that -- that long, tragic day. Today, we remember all of those who lost their lives, not only on September 11, but in the struggle we have faced against extremists now for more than two decades -- the 241 Marines killed in Beirut, the sailors on the USS Cole, the airline passengers flying over Lockerbie, Scotland, subway riders in Madrid and London, and the children going to school in Beslan, Russia. And we remember each of those who came to work here at the Pentagon on that bright September morning, but did not come home. And we remember the men and women in uniform who have stepped forward to serve our country, and have lost their lives in our defense in the five years since. The highest tribute we can pay to them is to commit ourselves to doing everything possible to fight the extremists, wherever they are, to making every effort to stay united as a country, and to give our truly outstanding men and women in uniform all that they need to succeed.

MAN: Georgine Rose Corrigan.

GWEN IFILL: The passengers who died on that third plane gained enduring notoriety, after fighting against the hijackers' intent to fly the jet into the U.S. Capitol or the White House. Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter was in Washington that day.

SEN. ARLEN SPECTER (R), Pennsylvania: There are 535 Americans who owe a special debt of gratitude to the heroes of Flight 93, 435 members of the House of Representatives, and 100 United States senators, because that plane -- perhaps only speculative, but I believe it to be true -- was headed to the Capitol of the United States. A Tuesday morning, like most of the other 534, I was at work. And, had those heroes not acted, I believe the Capitol of the U.S. House and Senate would have gone down. Somebody said, well, if the 20th hijacker had been on Flight 93, it wouldn't have come down. And I said, you're wrong. The crew and the passengers of Flight 93 would have brought that plane down under any circumstance.

GWEN IFILL: Five year ago, Tom Ridge was governor of Pennsylvania.

TOM RIDGE, Former Homeland Security Secretary: The passengers and crew of Flight 93 are truly an emblem of a citizen's greatest gift, a love of country, so deeply felt, so strongly demonstrated, that the highest sacrifice was nobly offered. These men and women stood in solidarity, so that others would receive salvation. Through bravery and unquestionable patriotism, and, again, through word and deed, they said, together, let us give this moment all we can. And so it was that, five years ago, upon this field of honor, lives were lost, so that lives were saved, and thus heroes were made over the skies of Shanksville. God bless the beloved patriots of Flight 93. And may God continue to bless the land they so dearly loved, the freest and most treasured place any of us could call home, the United States of America.

CHOIR: Let there be peace on Earth, and let it begin with me.

TESSA JOWELL, Member of British Parliament: What will survive of us is love. And the love of your relatives, of your sons, your daughters, your husbands, your wives, your partners, is what will endure. God bless you.

GWEN IFILL: On a visit to his native Germany, Pope Benedict XVI led a prayer for peace. And, in Helsinki, Finland, world leaders, gathered at a 38-nation Asia/Europe meeting, opened their final session with a moment of silence. Ceremonies and candlelight vigils were also held in Japan, France, Russia, Israel, and Indonesia. In Australia, the U.S. flag was lowered to half-staff, as Prime Minister John Howard reaffirmed his country's commitment to fighting terrorism.

WOMAN: For the land of the free...

GWEN IFILL: And, in Afghanistan, Americans still on the front lines of the war launched in retaliation for 9/11 laid wreaths. The ceremonies continued around the world, even as a new videotaped reminder, with new threats from al-Qaida number-two man, was released. In it, Ayman Al-Zawahri urged Muslims to step up attacks against the United States and the West. He said the Arab Gulf states and Israel are the new targets. In the United States, somber 9/11 anniversary observances will continue through this evening. At sunset today, as in years past, two beams of light will radiate from the place where the Twin Towers once stood. And, in Washington, 184 beams of light -- one for every life lost there -- will illuminate the Pentagon.