Govt proposes task force to stop suicides among IITians
With the world marking a decade since the deadliest attack on US soil, and the tragedy seared into America's collective memory, communities across America honored those lost in the disaster, while New York and Washington beefed uppolice presence and Obama called for a "heightened state of vigilance" as Americans readied for the 10th anniversary under the shadow of a terror threat.Relatives of victims also gathered on a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania where former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton and current Vice President Joe Biden unveiled a memorial yesterday to those who died aboard hijacked United Airlines Flight 93.Bush honored as heroes the 40 passengers and crew who helped avert further disaster by overpowering the hijackers intent on flying the airliner into the US Capitol, saying they launched the "first counteroffensive in the war on terror."But the president who launched that war also spoke of the wrenching pain that relatives still feel, 10years on."With the distance of a decade, 9/11 can feel like a part of a different era, but for the families of the men and women stolen, some of whom join us today, that day will never feel like history," Bush said."The memory of that morning is fresh and so is the pain. America shares your grief," he added. "The United States will never forget."The memorial was the most prominent yet in a series of events marking Sunday's anniversary.New York held several events, including one in which residents somberly grasped hands in a miles-long human chain that snaked through lower Manhattan, and a memorial service for the 343 firefighterskilled at the World Trade Center.Even as US intelligence agencies chased down what officials said was a credible but unconfirmed threat of an al-Qaeda attackaround the September 11 commemorations, Obama assured terrorism would never win."Ten years ago, ordinary Americans showed us the true meaning of courage when they rushed up those stairwells, into those flames, into that cockpit," the president said in his radio and Internet address."We will protect the country we love and pass it safer, stronger and more prosperous to the next generation," he added."Today, America is strong and al-Qaeda is on the path to defeat." [More]Tags:iitianssuicidetask force