New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who serves as the board chair of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, delivered the following remarks on the steps of the U.S. Capitol yesterday as part of a September 11th Remembrance Ceremony:

"Remember, reflect, rebuild. That’s what we’ve been doing for nine years, and I’m here to say thank you to America, to people from all 50 states who have helped us do that, and to commit to this country that we will not forget our obligation to work with the rest of the country to take care of those who came to our aid – first as a rescue mission, and much too rapidly turning into a recovery mission. And we will not forget our obligation to educate our children and our grandchildren that our freedoms are fragile, and the young men and women overseas who are fighting and dying to let us continue to speak and to pray and to live the way we want to live – we will not forget ever."By 9/11 Memorial Staff

We’ve been getting the word out that the 9/11 Memorial has been selected as a candidate to win $200,000 through Members Project from American Express and TakePart. You’ve probably seen our e-mails about this effort, and if you’ve been taking the time to vote for us each week, thank you so very much.

If you haven’t heard about this initiative, or if you have but haven’t found the time to vote, we need your votes now more than ever. This potential funding could go a long way for us at the 9/11 Memorial, helping to support the development of our museum exhibitions. These exhibitions will be the global focal point for telling the story of 9/11, preserving its history and the spirit of unity that has become its legacy for generations to come.

The only way we can get there is with your help, your family and friends and other supporters of the 9/11 Memorial. Please help us spread the word by inviting them to participate through Facebook and Twitter. Every single vote counts and we truly appreciate each one. Follow these simple steps to support us through Members Project. Be sure to vote once a week from now until November 21st.

• Step 1: Vote! Visit the Members Project site here, click “register to vote” (or sign in using your username and password if you’ve already participated in Members Project voting) and then vote for the 9/11 Memorial under the “Arts & Culture” category.
• Step 2: Spread the wordto your family and friends through e-mail, Facebook, and Twitter. Ask everyone you know to support the building of our nation’s Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center site by voting for the 9/11 Memorial. Here's an example tweet: "Just 1 year until the 9/11 Memorial opens. Show your support by voting for the 9/11 Memorial to win funding from Members Project. Visit http://bit.ly/bN1yOF." And an example Facebook post: "I haven’t forgotten 9/11. Please help me win $200,000 for the 9/11 Memorial in support of their mission to commemorate and educate. Visit http://www.takepart.com/membersproject."
• Step 3: IMPORTANT! Repeat Steps 1 and 2 every week to ensure the 9/11 Memorial receives the much-needed $200,000. Please help us to win this crucial funding. We can’t do it without you. Vote now and visit national911memorial.org to learn more.

Thank you all very much. 

By Joe Daniels, President and CEO of the 9/11 Memorial

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

MSNBC produced the above video over a 24-hour period, capturing in time-laspe footage the ongoing construction work of the 9/11 Memorial and other projects planned at the World Trade Center site. Scroll over the "options" tab on the video player to view in full-creen mode.

By 9/11 Memorial Staff

Help the 9/11 Memorial receive $200,000 in funding from American Express through the Members Project. Please vote today and spread the word - every vote counts! Learn more >>

By 9/11 Memorial Staff

On this ninth anniversary of the September 11 attacks, we join together in solemn remembrance. Our hearts go out to the families and friends who should never have had to bear such tragic losses.

By remembering today the thousands of people killed nine years ago, who simply going about their everyday lives, we recognize ourselves in the story of 9/11 and our responsibility as survivors to overcome an atrocity that shook us to our core.  By remembering the more than 400 first responders who perished solemnly performing their sworn duty that day, we honor those who sacrifice for our enduring freedom, both here at home and overseas.

Today, we also remember how people around the world came together in the aftermath of the attacks to stand in solidarity against terrorism. It is in this same spirit that we come together once again to build a lasting 9/11 Memorial to honor the victims.

This time next year, we will dedicate the Memorial on the tenth anniversary of the attacks. Every day, we are moving closer to reaching this goal through real and visible progress. Two weeks ago, life began to grow at the World Trade Center with the arrival of the first 16 of more than 400 trees that will line the Memorial.

The trees will surround the acre-size waterfalls with structures that have already been built in the footprints of the Twin Towers, around which the names of the nearly 3,000 people killed on 9/11 will be incised in bronze.  Standing among these first trees, one can now truly envision the finished memorial: the canopy of leaves overhead, glowing stretches of bronze panels, cascades of water falling away from sight, a reverential calm within one of New York City’s busiest neighborhoods.

Life on the 9/11 Memorial site will continue to grow thanks to the hundreds of construction workers who know this project is much more than just another job; every day they build history on these eight acres at the sacred heart of the place known as Ground Zero.

We ask people around the world to join us in paying their respects to the victims today.  Next year, we will honor their memory by dedicating a memorial that will be testament that our shared humanity is stronger than the hate that sought to tear us down on 9/11.

Update:I'm humbled by the respectful responses to the words I've shared here with you today. Thank you for your comments. I encourage you to return to The MEMO blog as often as you like to learn more about the work here at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, including our commitment to honor the people who were killed in the terror attacks and to open the 9/11 Memorial next year on the 10th anniversary.

By Joe Daniels, CEO and President of the 9/11 Memorial

CNN provided extensive coverage of the Memorial today. Please view a news story featuring a tour of the Memorial and read an opinion piece by 9/11 Memorial President Joe Daniels on the CNN.com website by clicking here.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who serves as chairman of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, hosted the charity's third annual benefit dinner last night. Jon Stewart of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" served as the event's master of ceremonies. Bloomberg was a recent guest on Stewart's show. 

The dinner put a spotlight on the progress made toward the goal of opening the 9/11 Memorial on the 10th anniversary of the attacks. It also highlighted teh stories of volunteerism and compassion that was spawned from the events of Sept. 11th.

During the benefit, Robert Wood Johnson, IV, the New York Jet's chairman and chief executive officer, was presented with the "Distinction in Corporate Citizenship" award. Time Warner Inc. was honored for the "Distinction in Rebuilding" award. Jeff Bewkes, the chairman and CEO for Time Warner, accepted the award.

The benefit dinner was held at Cipriani Wall Street in Manhattan.

9/11 Memorial staff

Update: Several trees were planted on the memorial plaza on Saturday. Return to The MEMO soon for more pictures and information about the planting. Until then, read this story about this landmark tree move that brought life back to the World Trade Center site.

At least a dozen Swamp White Oak trees will be planted on the western side of the World Trade Center site near the 9/11 Memorial pools. The trees currently average 30 feet in height and have a branch spread of 12 feet. They were chosen from areas within a 500-mile radius of the WTC site, as well as from New York, Pennsylvania and near Washington D.C. – to symbolize the locations directly impacted by the 9/11 attacks.

The trees have been growing at the Millstone Township, NJ, nursery since 2007. Houston-based Environmental Design is coordinating the tree move from the nursery and planting at the World Trade Center for the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

9/11 Memorial President Joe Daniels  will oversee the planting of the first trees on Saturday morning at at the site.

By Michael Frazier, Sr. Communications Manager for the 9/11 Memorial

Staff photographer Amy Dreher snaps a lot of pictures at the World Trade Center site, documenting the construction progress of the 9/11 Memorial. Amy also trains her lens on the smaller pieces that may be overlooked with a project of this magnitude. Through “The Lens: Viewing the 9/11 Memorial,” readers of The MEMO blog can share some of the unique vantage points captured by Amy.

On the move: With a scorching sun overhead, two construction workers wheel concrete pavers across the base of the north pool of the 9/11 Memorial. Like the summer heat, the granite and concrete work on the pools have increased.  Nearly 100 percent of the granite work is complete on the north pool, while the same work is moving swiftly on the south pool.

By Michael Frazier, Sr. Communications Manager for the Memorial