Today, the eighth anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, will witness a somber ritual near the site where the Twin Towers stood.  A ceremony with moments of silence, and words by victim’s family members will culminate when the official list of victim’s names is read, 2,752 of them.
 
Beyond the ceremony at ground zero, high officials within the Obama administration are reportedly attending memorials across the country. This anniversary also marks the first year in which 9/11 has been designated a National Day of Service and Remembrance, under the Serve America Act which was signed by Obama in April and sponsored by the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.
 
President Obama, this morning, took part in a wreath laying ceremony at the memorial to the victims of the Pentagon attack.  He, along with the first lady, also continued a tradition started by the Bush administration when they observed a moment of silence on the South Lawn of the White House at the time of the attack.

Vice President Joe Biden and wife are in New York to attend the September 11 commemoration at Zuccotti Park.  Secretar y of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was also in New York.  She was serving as the keynote speaker for the first 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance at the Beacon Theatre.

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk are painting houses and visiting with residents of the Supportive Housing Apartments for the Formerly Homeless in New York.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is working with participants of DC Central Kitchen's culinary training program in Washington to prepare meals for homeless shelters and feeding programs.

Labor Secretary Hilda Solis is in Las Vegas to tour a Veterans shelter and also to serve food to homeless veterans.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia helping with a mass vaccination for preventing swine flu.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell are in Pittsburgh for an event with two programs: Get Help Now and Wills for Heroes.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan is in Washington working with City Year AmeriCorps members clean-up an elementary school.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, said Friday that the anniversary is a "day of sorrow and tragedy, but also a day of heroism and unity."  "By serving our communities and our country today and throughout the year, we commemorate our past while also preparing for our future," Napolitano said.