9/11 in 2010 - Remembrance and Rebuilding

Last Saturday, September 11th, people all over the United States and the world took time to remember the victims of the terrorist attacks which killed nearly 3,000 people in New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania nine years ago. Progress on the rebuilding of Ground Zero in lower Manhattan is now becoming more evident as One World Trade Center topped 36 stories recently, on its way to 1,776 feet by 2012. The building, formerly known as the Freedom Tower, is now growing at a rate of one floor per week, after years of political, security and financing issues plagued the $11 billion multi-building project. A push is underway in both New York and Pennsylvania to complete memorial projects before next year's 10th anniversary. Collected here are photos from this weekend's memorials and of the rebuilding progress so far

The Tribute in Light rises behind the construction cranes on One World Trade Center, among the lower New York skyline, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010. In an annual tradition, the two bright blue beams of light rise from lower Manhattan in memory of the fallen twin towers. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

The Tribute in Lights illuminates the sky over lower Manhattan on September 11, 2010. (REUTERS/Gary Hershorn)

Construction materials sit in and around a memorial built in the footprint of the north tower of the World Trade Center tower at the World Trade Center construction site in New York September 8, 2010. (REUTERS/Lucas Jackson)

President Barack Obama hugs a woman as he greets family members of victims after speaking at the Pentagon Memorial, marking the ninth anniversary of the September 11 attacks, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Chicago Cubs' Alfonso Soriano gets back to first base safely on a pick off attempt by Milwaukee Brewers' Randy Wolf in the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Construction continues at the World Trade Center site with memorial footprints of the twin towers visible September 7, 2010 in New York City. Officials provided an update on the rebuilding efforts as the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks approaches. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

U.S. military personnel participate in a candlelight service to honor those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, at Camp Phoenix, Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010. (AP Photo/ Mustafa Quraishi)

A sample stone slab inscribed with names of victims from the 9/11 terrorist attacks is seen at Ground Zero August 31, 2010 in New York City. (Chris Hondros/Getty Images)

The Tribute in Lights illuminates the sky over lower Manhattan on September 11, 2010. (REUTERS/Gary Hershorn)

Construction workers complete detail work on the wall of one of the reflecting pools that will form part of the 9/11 memorial on Ground Zero August 31, 2010 in New York City. (Chris Hondros/Getty Images)

A 70-foot steel column recovered from the World Trade Center rubble is installed at the site of the 9/11 museum on the World Trade Center site September 7, 2010 in New York City. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)