Obama Participates in 9/11 Ceremony at the Pentagon

By THE NEW YORK TIMES

At the memorial garden at the Pentagon, President Obama and Mrs. Obama participated in a wreath-laying ceremony to honor the 184 people who died when United Flight #77 slammed into the military headquarters. They were joined by relatives of the victims, members of the military and others.

Mr. Obama made brief remarks during the roughly 30-minute event.”No matter how many years pass, no matter how many times we come together on this hallowed ground, know this - that you will never be alone,” Mr. Obama told relatives of the slain. “Your loved ones will never be forgotten. They will endure in the hearts of our nation, because through their sacrifice, they helped us make the America we are today - an America that has emerged even stronger.”

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the joint chiefs, were among those who joined the first couple at the cere mony.

Mr. Panetta said the United States is safer from terrorists today than 11 years ago. “And we will continue to fight them â€" in Yemen, in North Africa and in other places they try to hide,” Mr. Panetta said. “We will never stop until we are sure America is safe.”