The United States is marking the 14th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks. U.S. officials and many other Americans attended observances Friday to remember those killed and their loved ones.

Nearly 3,000 people died on September 11, 2001 when hijackers used four passenger airplanes to carry out suicide attacks in the United States. In addition to the victims, the 19 hijackers also were killed. Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and his group claimed responsibility for the attacks. U.S. forces killed him in a surprise raid on his hiding place in Pakistan four years ago.

Friday morning, President Barack Obama, his wife and White House workers observed a public moment of silence in Washington. They gathered on the White House grounds at 8:46. That was the exact time when a hijacked airplane struck the World Trade Center.

US Marks 14th Anniversary of 9/11 Attacks

In New York, families of the victims gathered for a ringing of bells and reading of the names of those killed in the terrorist attacks. Moments of silence were held at 8:46 and 9:03 in the morning, when a second hijacked plane also hit the World Trade Center.

Near Washington, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter and other officials attended an observance at the Pentagon, the home of the Defense Department. They joined in remembering those killed when a hijacked airplane hit the Pentagon, killing 184 people.

Earlier Friday, a large American flag was hung down the side of the Pentagon, where the passenger jet hit.

There also was a moment of silence at 10:03 a.m. That was the time when a fourth hijacked plane crashed in western Pennsylvania. All 44 people on the plane were killed. Many Americans believe the hijackers had planned to attack a target in the nation’s capital.

The fourth plane came down in a field in the rural community of Shanksville. Today, a new visitors center there tells the story of the 9/11 attacks. The Flight 93 National Memorial was set up to recognize the passengers and crewmembers who attacked the hijackers.

Stephen Clark is with the U.S. National Park Service. It operates the visitors center and surrounding grounds.

“It just amazes me that this aircraft was but 18 minutes away from hitting Washington, D.C.”

The field was quiet on Friday, very different from the situation 14 years ago.

Gordon Felt’s brother Edward was one of the passengers on United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001.

“It is surreal at times. Early on, it became very evident to us very quickly that our loved ones, the events surrounding their deaths, had historical significance to our country.”

The last 35 minutes of Edward Felt’s life, and others on the plane, are explained at the new visitors center. Relatives hope visitors to the memorial will understand the full effect of the actions of their loved ones.

“They’ll get a sense of who those 40 heroes were, as well as what their collective actions did to help save the Capitol building that morning.”

I’m George Grow.

This report was based on information from VOA’s News Division. George Grow adapted this story for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor.

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surreal – adj. very strange or unusual

significance – adj. importance; being worthy of attention

collective – adj. shared or done by a group of people

1. remember vt.记着; 纪念

例句：For example, it can easily remember such things as:

例如，它可以轻易地记住下面这些信息。

2. observe vt.观察; 研究

例句：We must observe the decencies.

我们一定要遵守规矩。

3. attend vi.出席; 致力于，献身于

例句：He is really too busy to attend to anything else.

他实在太忙, 无法分身。

4. significance n.意义; 重要性

例句：It has a wider significance.

它有更广泛的意义。

5. explain vt.讲解，解释

例句：Please explain yourself.

请你把意思说清楚。

1. Nearly 3,000 people died on September 11, 2001 when hijackers used four passenger airplanes to carry out suicide attacks in the United States.

carry out 进行; 执行; 完成

例句：No matter what we do, we must carry out our duties.

无论干什么工作,我们都应履行自己的职责。

2. In addition to the victims, the 19 hijackers also were killed.

in addition to 除?之外

例句：In addition to French, he has to study Japanese.

除了法语外,他还得学日语。

3. The Flight 93 National Memorial was set up to recognize the passengers and crewmembers who attacked the hijackers.

set up 建立; 准备; 安排

例句：They set up many branches throughout the country.

他们在全国建立好多分公司。

4. “They’ll get a sense of who those 40 heroes were, as well as what their collective actions did to help save the Capitol building that morning.”

as well as 也，又

例句：His interests included poetry as well as mathematics.

他不仅喜爱数学而且也爱写诗。

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The United States is marking the 14th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks. U.S. officials and many other Americans attended observances Friday to remember those killed and their loved ones.

美国正在纪念911恐怖袭击14周年。美国政府官员和其他人士周五参加了纪念活动，缅怀死难者及其亲人。

Nearly 3,000 people died on September 11, 2001 when hijackers used four passenger airplanes to carry out suicide attacks in the United States. In addition to the victims, the 19 hijackers also were killed. Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and his group claimed responsibility for the attacks. U.S. forces killed him in a surprise raid on his hiding place in Pakistan four years ago.

近3000人于20xx年9月11日遇难，当时劫机者利用四架飞机在美国执行自杀式袭击。除了受害者，19名劫机者也死了。基地组织领导人本拉登及其组织宣称对这起袭击负责。四年前，美军对本拉登在巴基斯坦的藏身之地发起突然袭击并打死了他。

Friday morning, President Barack Obama, his wife and White House workers observed a public moment of silence in Washington. They gathered on the White House grounds at 8:46. That was the exact time when a hijacked airplane struck the World Trade Center.

周五上午，奥巴马总统夫妇以及白宫官员在华盛顿举行默哀。他们于8:46聚集到白宫草坪上，这正是第一架被劫持的飞机撞击世贸中心的确切时间。

In New York, families of the victims gathered for a ringing of bells and reading of the names of those killed in the terrorist attacks. Moments of silence were held at 8:46 and 9:03 in the morning, when a second hijacked plane also hit the World Trade Center.

在纽约，遇难者家属集会敲响钟声并念出这次恐怖袭击中遇难者的姓名。他们在8：46和9：03进行了默哀。9：03是第二架被劫持飞机撞击世贸中心的时间。

Near Washington, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter and other officials attended an observance at the Pentagon, the home of the Defense Department. They joined in remembering those killed when a hijacked airplane hit the Pentagon, killing 184 people.

在华盛顿附近，美国国防部长卡特和其他官员在国防部总部五角大楼出席了纪念活动。他们一同缅怀了在一架被劫持飞机撞击五角大楼之时遇难的184人。

Earlier Friday, a large American flag was hung down the side of the Pentagon, where the passenger jet hit.

星期五早些时候，一面巨大的美国国旗覆盖在五角大楼遭受客机撞击的一侧。

There also was a moment of silence at 10:03 a.m. That was the time when a fourth hijacked plane crashed in western Pennsylvania. All 44 people on the plane were killed. Many Americans believe the hijackers had planned to attack a target in the nation's capital.

上午10:03还有另一场默哀。当时第四架被劫持飞机坠毁在宾夕法尼亚州西部。客机上所有44名人遇难。许多美国人认为，劫机者曾计划袭击美国首都华盛顿的某个目标。

The fourth plane came down in a field in the rural community of Shanksville. Today, a new visitors center there tells the story of the 9/11 attacks. The Flight 93 National Memorial was set up to recognize the passengers and crewmembers who attacked the hijackers.

第四架飞机坠毁在乡村社区尚克斯维尔的一处田野里。今天这里的一处新的游客中心讲述了9-11袭击的经历。93号航班国家纪念碑被建立起来，用于表彰向劫机者进攻的乘客和机组人员。

Stephen Clark is with the U.S. National Park Service. It operates the visitors center and surrounding grounds.

Stephen Clark就职于美国国家公园管理处。该管理处负责运营这处游客中心及周边广场。

"It just amazes me that this aircraft was but 18 minutes away from hitting Washington, D.C." “这架飞机只要再飞18分钟就能袭击华盛顿特区，这让我很吃惊。”

The field was quiet on Friday, very different from the situation 14 years ago.

周五的现场非常安静，和14年前的情况完全不同。

Gordon Felt's brother Edward was one of the passengers on United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001.

Gordon Felt的兄弟爱德华是20xx年9月11日飞行的93号航班上的乘客之一。

"It is surreal at times. Early on, it became very evident to us very quickly that our loved ones, the events surrounding their deaths, had historical significance to our country."

“它有时候很不真实。早前，它很快地让我们明白，我们的亲人以及围绕他们的死亡事件对美国具有历史性意义。”

The last 35 minutes of Edward Felt's life, and others on the plane, are explained at the new visitors center. Relatives hope visitors to the memorial will understand the full effect of the actions of their loved ones.

这个新游客中心讲述了Edward Felt和机上其他乘客生命中最后35分钟。乘客亲属们希望来到这个纪念碑的游客能够明白他们的亲人所采取行动的全面影响。

"They'll get a sense of who those 40 heroes were, as well as what their collective actions did to help save the Capitol building that morning."

“他们会了解到这40位英雄以及他们的集体行动在那个早晨帮助拯救了国会大厦。”

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