9-11-04- It took several hours, but the names of more than 2,700 people killed at the World Trade Center three years ago have been read in remembrance today.

Many of the victims' family members cried quietly and embraced each other as they gathered at ground zero.

Participants at the ceremony in New York observed four moments
of silence -- one for each of the two plane crashes, and one for
each tower that collapsed into a heap of rubble.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Governor George Pataki, and former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani each delivered readings. Both Bloomberg and Pataki noted the particular pain of losing a child.

President Bush attended a prayer service and observed a moment of silence to mark the third anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

Bush's September 11th observances began with a service of
prayer and remembrance at St. John's Episcopal Church near the
White House.

The president lit candles to open the service but did not speak.
The Reverend Luis Leon spoke directly to the president, telling him, "part of your role is to be chaplain to this nation" in times of tragedy.

Meantime, John Kerry attended a 9-11 memorial service this morning in Boston with families of Massachusetts victims.

The Democratic presidential nominee said that while 9-11 was, in his words, "the worst day we have ever seen, it brought out the best in all of us."