9/11 observances: Moments of silence to start 12th anniversary of terror attacks

For the 12th consecutive September 11, many Americans will fall silent at 8:46 a.m. Wednesday.

Twelve years after terrorists killed 2,977 people -- beginning with American Airlines Flight 11's crash into the north tower of the World Trade Center at 8:46 a.m. on September 11, 2001 -- observances are planned at the sites of the disasters.

In what has become a tradition, family members of victims of both the 2001 and 1993 attacks on the World Trade Center will read names of their loved ones at a ceremony at the 9/11 Memorial Plaza in New York. The 9/11 attack killed 2,753 people in New York, including 403 police and firefighters. The 1993 bombing killed six people.

Moments of silence will mark the 8:46 a.m. impact and the 9:03 a.m. crash of United Airlines Flight 175 into the World Trade Center south tower.see more photos after the cut..
 
A visitor to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum takes in the sight as he walks past on September 6. A rose is placed next to the name of a victim of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center at the North Pool of the memorial. Part of the World Trade Center's original foundation, left, and the last column removed from the WTC site, center, are covered in a protective wrap during construction of the museum.