Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Obama Lays Wreath At Ground Zero, Meets First Responders And 9/11 Victims' Families
By
Jen Chung
Published May 5, 2011
Modified May 5, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Gothamist
View all 12
By
Jen Chung
Published May 5, 2011
Modified May 5, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
President Obama ended his trip to the city by visiting the World Trade Center site, where he laid a wreath and met with first responders and 9/11 victims' families. Ten-year-old Christopher Cannizzaro, who was just 10 months old when his father, firefighter Brian Cannizzaro, was killed, "gave the president a fist-bump and handed him a prayer card with a picture of his father," reports CityRoom. The boy said of the meeting, "It means like the world to me. He's a very nice person."
Christopher added, "He was asking me about my dad. He asked about my necklace. He was just being so nice to me. He was being open with me. I was just truly honored to be here." But he had more complicated feelings about Osama bin Laden's death, "I was sort of happy, but they could have did something a little less harsh. It meant a lot to know that what happened to my dad happened to him."
Numerous elected officials accompanied Obama to Ground Zero—NY Governor Andrew Cuomo, NYC Mayor Bloomberg, NJ Governor Chris Christie, Senator Chuck Schumer, Senator Robert Menendez, Senator Frank Lautenberg—but there were no public remarks. It has been three years since Obama has been at the site, and since then, there's been a lot of progress. Port Authority Director Chris Ward said, "It's a day of incredible pride. His leadership in killing Osama bin Laden brings a real sense of relief. The progress here is symbolic of that effort."
Obama will be returning this September for the 10th anniversary of the attacks.
Tagged
9/11
9/11 victims
9/11 victims families
ground zero
Osama bin Laden
president obama
world trade center
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Queens man found dead, police say, and injured woman is his mother, neighbors say
Police are investigating a related incident in which a 62-year-old woman was found injured beneath the Van Wyck Expressway.
By
Charles Lane
Published Oct 14, 2026 at 7:39 p.m. ET
Man shot by ICE in NYC's Marble Hill said federal officers never identified themselves
The wounded man said he didn't learn ICE agents were involved until he woke up in the hospital.
By
Arya Sundaram
and
Samantha Max
News
Man shot by ICE in NYC's Marble Hill said federal officers never identified themselves
The wounded man said he didn't learn ICE agents were involved until he woke up in the hospital.
By
Arya Sundaram
and
Samantha Max
Brooklyn school dean says MTA officers assaulted him over a $3 bus fare he says he paid
By
Carol Chen
National Grid customers in NYC will see higher gas bills this winter
By
Rosemary Misdary
Bruce Blakeman joins Gov. Hochul in support for expanding NY rape law
By
Jon Campbell
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .