Today marks the 14th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Memorials are taking place throughout the country to remember the 2,996 lives that were lost when three hijacked planes were flown into American landmarks, forever changing the course of the nation.
President Barack Obama and the first lady commemorated the tragic day by leading a national moment of silence on the White House South Lawn. 200 guests attended the somber memorial earlier this morning, and flags were flown at half-staff over the White House.
A bell tolled four times at 8:46 a.m., marking the time the first hijacked plane crashed into the World Trade Center.
Watch the Associated Press video below to see the moment:
To read more about the Obamas' tribute, check out the The Huffington Post >
To view a gallery of photos documenting the Sept. 11, 2001 tragedy, visit National Geographic's website >
