Standing before living former presidents and the vice president, Terry Strada used her moment at the microphone to say what the ceremony's format was never designed to carry.
The reading of the names at Ground Zero follows a solemn format that has remained largely unchanged over the years. Relatives step up, read a portion of the nearly 3,000 names, and add a few words for their own person. Political leaders attend, but the New York ceremony traditionally does not feature political speeches.
