US President George W. Bush (L) and First Lady Laura Bush (C) lay a wreath at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, marking the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.[AFP]                In memorial ceremonies across the nation, and much of the world, people observed a moment of silence in remembrance of the nearly 3,000 victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. The fifth anniversary may be the last one at the Ground Zero site. Five years after the attacks, much of the focus of the commemorations was on New York where more than 2,700 people died when two hijacked airplanes crashed into the World Trade Center towers, shaking the United States' confidence and changing the New York skyline forever. As at the previous commemorations at Ground Zero, family members read the names of the dead in a solemn ceremony against a sound track of somber and patriotic music. Dozens of religious services and commemorative events took place around the city. At one, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said that as New York rebuilds, children must be taught more about the attack than the devastation it wrought. "We must also share with them the beautiful memories of the loved ones we lost and of the incredible examples of courage we witnessed on that day," said Michael Bloomberg. "And most of all we must share with them our hope for the future, their future. That is how we will truly honor the memory of each of the 2,749 people we lost." President and Mrs. Bush paid their respects on Sunday, placing a wreath on one of the reflecting pools at Ground Zero. They spent part of Monday morning at a firehouse near the site before traveling to the field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where 40 people died after wresting control of hijacked plane. The Bushes then returned to Washington and placed a wreath at the Pentagon site where a fourth hijacked plane killed 184 people upon crashing. Earlier in the day, Vice President Dick Cheney spoke during a memorial ceremony at the Pentagon. "We have learned that oceans do not protect us, and threats that gather thousands of miles away can now find us here at home," said Dick Cheney. The events of 9/11 were commemorated from coast to coast, from religions services in metropolitan cathedrals to makeshift memorials in small towns. In California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger called for a return to the unity Americans experienced after the attacks. "Let us remember the tragedy but also let us remember the triumph of the American spirit," said Arnold Schwarzenegger.

昨天是美国9·11恐怖袭击事件五周年纪念日，美国全国各地和世界上很多其它地方都举行了各种形式的纪念仪式，人们在悼念活动中默哀，缅怀9·11恐怖袭击的近3000名遇难者。五周年纪念可能是在"归零地"（世贸中心双子大厦变成的一堆废墟）举行的最后一次纪念活动。 9·11五周年纪念活动主要集中在纽约，2001年9月11日，两架被劫持的飞机顷刻间撞塌纽约世贸中心大楼，造成2700多人丧生，美国的信心因此遭到沉重打击，而纽约的地平线也从此被改变了。 此前也有一些纪念活动在"归零地"举行，人们在低沉的爱国主义音乐中念着遇难亲友的名字。 此外，纽约各地举行了各种形式的宗教仪式和纪念活动。在一次宗教纪念活动中，纽约市市长迈克尔·布隆伯格说，纽约的重建在进行之中，我们不应该让孩子们看到9·11给美国带来的创伤，他们应该多了解这次袭击事件本身。 他说："我们还应该跟他们讲讲遇难亲友的故事，还要给他们讲那一天我们亲眼见到的勇敢非凡的人。最重要的是，我们要和孩子们分享对于未来的希望，那是他们的未来。这才是我们缅怀这2749位遇难者的最真诚的方式。" 布什总统及夫人于上周日在"归零地"的其中一个清池上敬献了花圈。周一早上，他们来到"归零地"附近的一个消防站进行悼念，之后，他们前往宾西法尼亚州的Shanksville地区出席另外一个悼念活动--在9·11事件中，一架被劫持的飞机因乘客和劫机者搏斗，最终在Shanksville附近的一个空旷地坠毁，机上40人全部遇难。接着，布什及夫人又返回华盛顿，来到五角大楼事发地点敬献花圈，当时，第四架被劫持的飞机在此坠毁，造成184人丧生。 昨天早些时候，美国副总统迪克·切尼在五角大楼举行的纪念仪式上发表了讲话。 他说："9·11让我们认识到海洋保护不了我们，即使远在万里之外，恐怖和威胁如今也能找上门来。" 美国全国各地都举行了纪念9·11死难者的活动，其中有在大教堂里举行的宗教纪念仪式，也有在小镇临时纪念馆里举行的纪念活动。 加州州长阿诺德·施瓦辛格号召美国人在经历了这次恐怖事件后要再次团结起来。 他说："我们不但要记住这个悲剧，而且我们不能忘记美国精神所取得过的胜利。"