CRI听力：US Marks the 7th Anniversary of the 9/11 Attacks

U.S. presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama appeared together at Ground Zero Thursday afternoon on the seventh anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks.

The Democratic and Republican presidential nominees said in a statement they would appear together at the World Trade Center site to honor the memory of each and every American who died" in the 2001 attacks.

Earlier, U.S. President George W. Bush joint fellow Americans around the nation to mark the occasion by observing a moment of silence.

The silence marks the exact time 8:46 a.m. when the first hijacked plane hit the World Trade Center in New York.

On Wednesday, relatives of 9/11 victims gathered in New York to remember their loved ones, ahead of the anniversary of the attacks.

Relatives of victims took part in a "9/11 Living Memorial" workshop, where families contributed pictures and letters, which were put onto an online memorial.

Barry Zelman, who lost his brother Kenneth in the attacks, says the workshop reconnects him with his brother in some way.

"It's an extension of me, so you know part of me died on 9/11 so, you know, any time I can connect with my brother in any way I can, it helps me because it's just connecting with him on another level. You know, I feel close to him."

Meanwhile, US soldiers at Camp Eggers in Kabul attended a prayer ceremony.

The soldiers laid a floral wreath and observed a moment of silence.

Major General Robert W. Cone, US military Commander made a speech at the ceremony with a stark security reminder. (Www.hxen.net)

"Since 11 September, 2001 the world has witnessed horrific scenes of terrorism in places like Bali, Russia, Madrid, London, Israel, Egypt, Iraq, Afghanistan and Turkey. These attacks are stark reminders that the threat of terrorism is real and still a danger to the entire world."

At least 517 members of the US military have died as a result of the US invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to the US Defence Department.