VOA标准英语2009年-Obama Marks September 11 Anniversary In Wa

U.S. President Barack Obama has marked the eighth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States by reaffirming his determination to defeat terrorism. The president laid a wreath in memory of those who died on that day's attack on the Pentagon.
　
US President Barack Obama speaks as Chairman of Joint¹ Chiefs Admiral Michael Mullen looks on during eighth anniversary of 9/11 attacks, 11 Sep 2009

President Obama stood in a heavy rain at the Pentagon Memorial, and called on Americans to remain united in fighting terrorism.

"Let us renew our resolve against those who perpetrated this barbaric act and who plot against us still," the president said. "In defense² of our nation, we will never waver. In pursuit of al-Qaida and its extremist allies, we will never falter³."

Near the spot where, eight years earlier, a hijacked⁴ jetliner slammed into the huge office building, killing⁵ 184 people, Mr. Obama pledged to do everything possible to keep America safe. And he said recalling the nation's unity⁶ of purpose after the 9/11 attacks is the strongest rebuke⁷ against the terrorists who conducted them.

"On a day when others sought to sap our confidence, let us renew our common purpose," President Obama said. "Let us remember how we came together as one nation, as one people, as Americans."

The president addressed about 500 people, including survivors⁸ of the Pentagon attack and families of the victims. He said that despite the brutality⁹ of the attacks, Americans should recall the beauty of the victims' lives.

"They were innocent. Harming no one, they went about their daily lives," the president said. "Gone in a terrible instant, they now dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

Mr. Obama also paid tribute to the public safety workers who responded to the Pentagon attack, as well as the military personnel who have fought to protect the nation since 9/11.

The president and Defense Secretary Robert Gates met with the victims' family members.

The first of four moments of silence was held at 8:46 a.m., the time the first jet hit the twin towers of New York's World Trade Center eight years earlier. At that time, the president and first lady Michelle Obama observed a moment of silence outside the White House as a bugler¹⁰ played taps. About 150 White House staff members stood in silence around them.

In New York, families carrying photos of lost loved ones gathered where the World Trade Center had once stood, and huddled¹¹ in the rain as church bells rang in remembrance. Vice¹² President Joe Biden laid flowers in a reflecting pool at the site. The names of the victims were being read throughout the day.

Most of the nearly 3,000 people who died in the 9-11 attacks were in or near the towers.

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell was to give the main speech at the ceremonies near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where a fourth hijacked plane crashed. The names of the 40 passengers and crew of that flight were to be read. It is widely believed that passengers on United Airlines Flight 93 foiled a hijackers' plot to ram¹³ the plane into a major landmark¹⁴ in Washington.

1 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

2 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

3 falter   

vi.(嗓音)颤抖，结巴地说；犹豫；蹒跚

参考例句：

• His voice began to falter.他的声音开始发颤。
• As he neared the house his steps faltered.当他走近房子时，脚步迟疑了起来。

4 hijacked   

劫持( hijack的过去式和过去分词 )； 绑架； 拦路抢劫； 操纵（会议等，以推销自己的意图）

参考例句：

• The plane was hijacked by two armed men on a flight from London to Rome. 飞机在从伦敦飞往罗马途中遭到两名持械男子劫持。
• The plane was hijacked soon after it took off. 那架飞机起飞后不久被劫持了。

5 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

6 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

7 rebuke   

v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise

参考例句：

• He had to put up with a smart rebuke from the teacher.他不得不忍受老师的严厉指责。
• Even one minute's lateness would earn a stern rebuke.哪怕迟到一分钟也将受到严厉的斥责。

8 survivors   

幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days. 幸存者在救生艇上漂流了六天。
• survivors clinging to a raft 紧紧抓住救生筏的幸存者

9 brutality   

n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮

参考例句：

• The brutality of the crime has appalled the public. 罪行之残暴使公众大为震惊。
• a general who was infamous for his brutality 因残忍而恶名昭彰的将军

10 bugler   

喇叭手； 号兵； 吹鼓手； 司号员

参考例句：

• The general ordered the bugler to sound the retreat. 将军命令号手吹号收兵。
• There was nothing faded about the bugler under the cap. 帽子下面那个号手可一点也不是褪色的。

11 huddled   

挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• We huddled together for warmth. 我们挤在一块取暖。
• We huddled together to keep warm. 我们挤在一起来保暖。

12 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

13 ram   

(random access memory)随机存取存储器

参考例句：

• 512k RAM is recommended and 640k RAM is preferred.推荐配置为512K内存，640K内存则更佳。

14 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。