Obama to Ground Zero: Live Blog

President Barack Obama will meet with survivors and family members of those killed in the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history Thursday, days after American commandos killed the leader of the group behind that massacre.

11:36 a.m. - On the way out Obama paused at the wall commemorating those lost on 9/11 that reads "Pride of Midtown Engine 54 Ladder 4 Battalion 9."

11:35 a.m. -- @edhenrycnn: President tells firefighters that courage of military and intel sends a msg that "when we say we never forget we mean what we say."

11:35 a.m. - Obama and Giuliani worked the line of firefighters at the firehouse before Obama spoke to the group. He said he decided to make the trip to thank them "from the bottom of my heart," but added nothing can be done to bring back the friends we lost.

"You will always have a president whose got your back," Obama said.

11:24 a.m. – Obama visits Engine 54 firehouse in New York that lost 15 men on 9/11. He will deliver informal remarks to firefighters and view a bronze memorial plaque commemorating the men.

11:21 a.m. – @edhenrycnn reports buttons being sold near Ground Zero that read "Mission Accomplished 05.01.11."

11:17 a.m. - @edhenrycnn: People lining streets hoping to see president

11:13 a.m. - The president is in the motorcade and departing the landing zone.

11:12 a.m. - Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani greeted Obama when Marine One landed.

11:04 a.m. - Marine One has landed at the Wall Street landing zone.

10:55 a.m. - Obama disembarked Air Force One at JFK airport in New York with a wave before rushing over to shake hands with a group of people assembled by the plane. He then boarded Marine One.

10:45 a.m. - White House Press Secretary Jay Carney briefed reporters aboard Air Force One en route to NYC, according to the pool report. He said Obama thinks it's "appropriate and fitting" to visit New York to recognize the city's loss on September 11, 2001. Carney said the trip is an effort to help New Yorkers and Americans achieve a sense of "closure."

10:42 a.m. – Air Force One has landed in New York City.

10:31 a.m. – @AWMooneyCNN: Obama was last at Ground Zero in 2008 with then-presidential candidate John McCain

10:00 a.m. – Air Force One is wheels up headed for New York City.

9:40 a.m. – Obama has left the White House on Marine One with top aide Valerie Jarret, Chief of Staff Bill Daley, and national security adviser John Brennan.