At Purity Restaurant, Obama's Wreath-Laying a Solemn Affair

As President Barack Obama laid the wreath at Ground Zero, the busy lunch crowd at fell still.

“It was like a moment of silence,” said Sadie Simo, a waitress at the Underhill Avenue diner.

Following the , President Barack Obama made a visit to the city today, a gesture of shared mourning and solidarity with New Yorkers whose lives were forever altered on Sept. 11, 2001.

“I think it’s sweet that he actually came down, and I like that he didn’t make a speech. He kept it simple, which is very respectful,” Simo said.

“He’s there with the 9/11 families. It’s hard for people to live through that over again. I do like that he did that for people who lost people on Sept. 11, but I don’t think there’s full closure,” she added.

Lynnette Deane, a third-grade teacher at P.S. 9 who was eating lunch at the diner agreed.

“I think the president coming and focusing on those families (is good). That’s what I feel that we should put the focus on, the families,” she said.

But while diners at the restaurant said they hoped Bin Laden’s death and the ceremony helped bring the families of the victims some closure, they weren’t sure such a thing was possible.

“You can never bring closure for anything like that,” said Mildred Clarke, a retired physician. But, she added, bin Laden’s death is an important symbol.

“I think the families involved can see that the country did everything it could to get to the root of what happened,” she said.

At Ground Zero, the wreath-laying was a solemn affair. Obama did not make any formal remarks, but shook hands and traded words with members of the honor guard, family members of victims, and local politicians.

Area residents lined the streets, packed up against barricades at the intersection of Barclay and Church streets north of the World Trade Center site.

Crown Heights resident Michael Peter, 48, came to the ceremony with his wife to support the president and the families of the victims.

“We’re so happy that the person who orchestrated the attacks has been caught and killed,” he said. “I cried that day that the towers fell. I cried,” he said.

“We hope that this will help to put their minds at ease,” he added.

Gib Veconi, of Prospect Heights, was . He said, via e-mail, that he appreciated the president’s visit.

“It's always appropriate to recognize the people who died in the 9/11 attacks, as well as those who worked in the aftermath of the attacks to make the area safe and secure and to restore access.”

“However, I don't draw a connection between that recognition and the killing of Osama bin Laden,” he added

Before laying a wreath at the World Trade Center site, Obama joined firefighters and former mayor Rudy Giuliani at Engine 54 firehouse in Midtown, which lost 15 members in the attacks. 

While there, NY1 cameras caught the president making some off-the-cuff remarks.

“I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart on behalf of the American people for the sacrifices that you make every single day,” Obama said.

“Obviously, we can’t bring back our friends that were lost. I know each and every one of you have grieved for them, but also tried to deal with their families and children, trying to give them comfort and support,” the president added.

Prospect Heights politicians praised the president's visit.

"President Obama’s trip to New York City to lay a wreath at the Sept. 11 Memorial at Ground Zero was a necessary moment of closure for the victim's families and 9/11 responders," said Councilwoman Letitia James via e-mail. "He was successful in honoring those who died in the World Trade Center attacks, as well as burying lingering memories and questions about the tragic incident.  It was a glorious spring day for our President's visit; God Bless New York City and God Bless America.” 

"Meeting with the families of victims who were killed during the attacks is simply another step towards closure,"  agreed Olanike Alabi,  the state assembly female leader for the 57th district said via e-mail. "My hope is that many of us will adopt his demeanor of humility by not gloating or celebrating.  Instead, we must continue to promote peace."

Security was intense throughout the city, with street closures taking place to clear city traffic for the president’s motorcade and police stepping up patrols and searches on subways.

Indeed, families of victims are still dealing with their great losses. Nancy Carbone, Executive Director of Friends of Firefighters, Inc., a not-for-profit organization in Red Hook that supports firefighters through counseling and long-term assistance, said since the news of bin Laden's death, more people have been calling needing assistance.

"There's definitely been a response, particularly with the families of the victims," she said.

Patch editors Georgia Kral, Kristen Brown, Paul Leonard and Matt Hampton contributed reporting to this story.