Families comfort each other as the view 9/11 names

NEW YORK – Relatives of victims of the Sept. 11 attacks and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing are being allowed in to the lower Manhattan memorial for the first time.

Many carried photographs and some carried flags as they entered the memorial plaza Sunday. They're walking around a reflecting pool, looking at panels bearing the names of their loved ones.

One group of people, dressed in black and dark blue, had been standing over a set of names, hugging and weeping. Soon, hundreds of people were gathering around the pool, quietly talking or comforting one another.

The city is observing the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks at the newly opened Memorial Plaza at the site.

The ceremony also serves as the memorial's official opening. The site opens to the public Monday.