September 11 attacks: millions of Americans pay tribute to 2,977 victims – Franceinfo

At 8.46am (US time) in the streets of New York (United States), silence invaded the city, usually noisy. The smiles of the tourists were replaced by tears of emotion as the first of the two towers was hit. Where the World Trade Center once stood are photos of the 2,753 victims of the collapse of the two towers. In the middle of the families, two former American presidents, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, as well as Joe Biden mingle with the crowd to support the families of the victims.

At six points, silence reigns across the country at the exact times when the four planes crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, the Pennsylvania Field and at the precise moment when the Twin Towers collapsed. Between these moments of silent contemplation, American artists come to pay homage to the victims by singing songs. “In the weeks and months following the attacks, I was proud to lead the United States of America”, chanted George W. Bush, former President of the United States, from the Pennsylvania field where Flight 93 crashed. “America’s unity seems distant”, adds George W. Bush. For Loïc de La Mornais, journalist with France Télévisions live from New York (United States), we must qualify the words of the former president: “Here in New York, the unit was there. People supported each other.”