TRIBUTE

Obama to Visit Ground Zero

Thursday trip will be first time since 2008 campaign.

President Obama will visit the site of the Twin Towers Thursday for the first time as president, just days after a U.S. military operation killed al Qaeda leader—and 9/11 mastermind—Osama bin Laden. Obama will visit with families of the victims of the terrorist attack, White House officials said. Since bin Laden’s death Sunday, crowds have gathered to celebrate. Obama last visited ground zero during the 2008 campaign, and since then has drawn criticism from some families of victims due to his support of the "ground zero mosque," an Islamic cultural center located a few blocks away. Obama has marked the 9/11 anniversaries in Washington since taking office.