US observes 14th anniversary of 9/11 attack; President Obama pays homage to victims

President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, and others, stand on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Friday, September 11, as they observe the 14th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorists attacks. (Source: AP)

Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama observe a moment of silence to mark the 14th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, in Washington. Relatives of the nearly 3,000 people killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks are due to gather in New York, Pennsylvania and outside Washington on Friday to mark the 14th anniversary of the hijacked airliner strikes carried out by al Qaeda militants. (Source: Reuters)

White House staff listen as a bugler plays "Taps" during a ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Friday, with President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama to observe the 14th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. (Source: AP)

President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, and others observe a moment of silence on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Friday, to mark the 14th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. (Source: AP)

A flag is placed along the South Pool prior to a ceremony at the World Trade Center site in New York on Friday, September 11. With a moment of silence and somber reading of names, victims' relatives began marking the 14th anniversary of Sept. 11 in a subdued gathering Friday at ground zero. (Source: AP)

A woman walks past thousands of flags placed to honor of the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in front of Hankins Whittington Funeral Home in Charlotte, N.C., Friday. (Source: AP)

Army Sgt. Edwin Morales prays during a ceremony at the World Trade Center site in New York on Friday. (Source: AP)

The names are seen on the "Empty Sky" memorial to New Jersey's victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, as One World Trade Center, center left, stands on the 14th anniversary, early Friday, September 11, 2015, in Jersey City, N.J. Victims' relatives began marking the 14th anniversary of Sept. 11 in a subdued gathering Friday at ground zero, with a moment of silence and somber reading of names. (Source: AP)

Visitors touch the names of the victims of the September 11 terror attacks at the South Pool of the National September 11 Memorial on Friday. (Source: AP)

Defense Secretary Ash Carter attends a wreath ceremony during a memorial for the 14th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. (Source: AP)

Defense Secretary Ash Carter listens at left as Joint Chiefs Vice Chairman Gen. Paul Selva speaks at the Pentagon Memorial on the 14th anniversary of September 11th, Friday September 11, 2015, at the Pentagon. (Source: AP)