on the broadcast tonight, eight years later, during the remembrance of 9/11, a security scare in washington. is it the fault of the coast guard or a cable network? tonight, we are covering the memorials and the unfinished business. one shot, could it be that is all it will take to protect us against the swine flu and when will the vaccine be available? and making a difference, across america on this national day of service. across america on this national day of service. nightly news begins now. captions paid for by nbc-universal television good evening. we are a much different country today than we were in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. while we are still fighting two wars launched in its immediate

aftermath, and while, thankfully, we have remained safe, we respect as skittish as we were right after 9/11. that is, until something happens, like it did today. during the 9/11 memorial in washington, an urgent story broke on television about an incident on the potomac river not far from where the president was, at the pentagon. outbound flights were halted at washington's airport, and tensions were high, until we learned it was a false alarm. the day went on from there. sad memorials here in new york, washington, pennsylvania and elsewhere, many of them in a soaking rain. but the tone was set. our justice correspondent, pete williams, starts us off from the banks of the boat tomy knick washington tonight. pete, good evening. >> reporter: brian this is memorial bridge over the boat tomyic. and as the president's motorcade was driving back and forth across it this morning, something was going on nearby that sent ripples of alarm

across the capital. for the crews of the u.s. coast guard's fast patrol boats, it was a normal day, a routine training drill like this one on the boat tomyic river between two washington bridges i and not far from the pentagon and national airport. as part of the drill, a coast guardsman said on an open marine channel that a suspicious boat refused an order to stop. "bang, bang, bang" said one of the exercise participants. >> there is other news that we need to get out to you. in fact, breaking news right now. >> reporter: a few minutes later, cnn, hearing the radio call and seeing coast guard boats maneuvering, reported that shots had, in fact, been fired. >> this is pretty incredible. i have to say, as the story is developing here and i learned that rounds had actually been fired. >> reporter: based strictly on the news reports, the fbi scrambled a response team, and nearby national airport stopped all takeoffs for nearly half an hour, delaying 17 flights. but there was no suspicious boat on the river, no shots were ever

fired. it was all a drill. the coast guard said it owed no apology. >> we are charged with 7/24, 365, all day, every day, all weather, security and safety on a maritime interest of the national capital region. we train every day. >> reporter: but homeland security secretary janet napolitano, who oversees the coast guard, ordered a complete review and the coast guard stayed would look into conducting such a visible training mission while president obama was traveling back and forth across the river on the day of the 9/11 anniversary. >> this is very instructive for us and we are going to back through this. we are going to review our own protocols, our own procedures. >> happening in the boat tomyic. >> reporter: but the white house spokesperson says the reporting made matters worse. >> i do wish that some of the people that reported that incident might have taken a little bit of time to check and see whether what they were reporting was accurate. >> reporter: tonight, cnn said it would have been irresponsible

not to have reported what it saw and heard, but this whole episode shows that eight years after the 9/11 attacks, washington is still a city on edge, brian. >> pete williams in washington for us to start us off tonight. pete, thanks. and now to the day itself, eight years after the worst terrorist attack in u.s. history. and the natural and fair question, how much has changed? our report tonight from nbc's ron allen. >> reporter: eight years later, president obama marked his first september 11th anniversary as commander in chief, with a moment of silence at the time the first plane struck. at the pentagon, where 184 benches honored those killed there, the president vowed to renew the fight against those responsible. >> the defense of our nation, we will never waiver. pursuit of al qaeda and its extremist allies, we will never falter. >> reporter: however, osama bin laden is still free and public support for that war in afghanistan is declining.

>> woleska martinez. >> reporter: september 11th families eight years later face other disappointments. they gathered in the field in pennsylvania where 40 died fighting the hijackers of united flight 93. but there's still no memorial there. just two days before this anniversary august bronze plaque was unveiled at the capitol, where the flight seemed headed that fateful day. >> i love you and i miss you. >> reporter: eight years later, the grief is still raw. >> joen pierre who worked on the 102nd floor of the north tower. >> reporter: volunteers stood by the families. this anniversary, for the first time, has been declared a national day of service by the president. >> still feel the loss. i don't think it ever goes away. >> reporter: linda mcgee and brother, stanley alexander, attend each year. they lost a sister, brenda. like many, they are disappointed that ground zero remains a vast open scar, the big hole filled only by a commuter rail station. no memorial here as well. >> seems like maybe they should

have been a little further along. >> reporter: the most recent plan is to build four office towers here, with a tree-lined plaza, museum and memorial in the center. a plan behind schedule because of seemingly endless political and financial disputes and delays. the goal now, to at least have a memorial open by 2011, the tenth anniversary. ♪ however today, many still struggled with this anniversary and the deep sense of loss that probably will never go away. ron allen, nbc news, new york. and then there's the place where the al qaeda attack originated, afghanistan. a little later on in this broadcast, a growing number of questions and doubts about sending more u.s. combat troops into that country. and somewhat unbelievably today on wall street, not far from ground zero at all, the dow jones industrial closed at almost the exact same number it did eight years ago the day before the 9/11 attacks. remember, that was the day before the exchange was shut down for several days following

the terrorist attack. now we move on to health care reform, as negotiators on capitol hill try to settle their differences over several issues. the one that was front and center today was the one raised by congressman joe wilson, the south carolina republican whose heckling of the president from the house floor continues to reverberate. correspondent kelly o'donnell has our report from capitol hill. >> i want to take this moment to speak to you directly. >> reporter: a much calmer joe wilson today, but after shouting down the president in prime time -- >> would not apply to those who are here illegally. >> you lie. >> reporter: more fallout. today, wilson was told by democratic leaders that he must apologize on the house floor or face a formal reprimand next week. wilson already told the white house he was sorry. >> my statements were inappropriate. >> reporter: and with his re-election campaign video, went on offense on proposed health care changes. >> on these issues, i will not

be muzzled. i will speak up and speak loudly against this risky map. >> reporter: democrats say illegal immigrants will not get health insurance under the plan but wilson claims legislation does not do enough to enforce citizenship requirements. back home in his south carolina district -- >> i think he spoke for many citizens, including myself. >> reporter: folks at the sunset diner did not approve of wilson's outburst but many say they agree with his views. >> maybe wasn't the time or place to say what he said, but what he said, i thought was accurate. >> reporter: wilson's sudden notoriety quickly contributed campaign cash for both parties. wilson is running ads on the internet and said he raised more than $700,000. outrage surrounding wilson help hadded their challenger, rob miller, top $800,000, democrats say. as a result of this controversy, senate democrats today said they discussed options, like requiring social security numbers to make clear illegal immigrants will not get coverage. >> there's a high degree of

confidence that we have an outline to prevent anybody here illegally from benefiting from these initiatives. >> reporter: while the whole wilson matter has been a big distraction it is still unclear if the president has enough moderate democrats to pass health care reform. kelly o'donnell, nbc news, the capitol. there is also more to report tonight about flu season. not only, of course do we face a double threat this year, the swine flu and the regular seasonal flu, we learned today that the flu is making an unusually early appearance. there are now flu cases in all 50 states, most of those swine flu. and there is news as well about the swine flu vaccine. all of it tonight from our chief science correspondent, robert bazell. >> yes, i am ready. >> reporter: health officials are encouraged by the experimental results showing that healthy adults will need only a single dose of the swine flu vaccine when it starts to be available next month. >> it now appears that most of

the folks have a robust immune response in eight to ten days from the date of the first vaccine. >> reporter: many people will get swipe flu before there is any vaccine. after the virus first appeared in late april, visits to doctors and hospitals for flu increased sharply, then stabilized for the summer. but in recent weeks, the numbers have climbed sharply again, with no end in sight. the american college health association reports that 72% of colleges and universities it surveys across the country reported flu cases in the week ending september 4th. >> 98% of the viruses that are circulating right now are this new h1n1. the levels of flu activity that we are seeing right now in september are extremely unusual for this time of year. we have flu activity occurring in all 50 states and the district of columbia. >> all right. ready? >> ready. >> reporter: experts say the new swine flu vaccine should be

safe. a 1976 vaccination campaign against a swine flu threat caused an increase in a rare paralytic condition called guillain-barre system. >> monitoring it very, very carefully, extremely important and we are very mindful of the experience in 1976 and the importance of being able to assure the public about the safety of vaccine use. >> reporter: a new monitoring system will check electronic medical records of many hospitals and insurance plans for the first signs of any side effects of the vaccine. robert bazell, nbc news, new york. as you may know, the clock is ticking toward a vote on who gets to host the 2016 summer olympics. and the white house announced today they are going all-in in the effort to get the games here. first lady, michelle obama, will travel to copenhagen to make one last lobbying push for her hometown, chicago, illinois.

the u.s. olympic committee and the bid team were hoping president obama would make the trip. the other cities, rio de janeiro, madrid and tokyo, happen october 2nd. a shooting right in front of a michigan high school, another death nearby, a suspect in custody. the question is what happened and in what order? late later because those who serve make a difference in our lives, tonight, we honor their work. thank you claritin-d. (announcer) so you'll find claritin-d behind the pharmacy counter. thank you claritin-d, for staying tough on the toughest allergy symptoms. for refusing to change your formula. (announcer) nothing works stronger, faster or longer to relieve your worst allergy symptoms including congestion and sinus pressure without drowsiness. thank you claritin-d for helping me live claritin clear. (announcer) get claritin-d at the pharmacy counter. still no prescription needed. body wash from olay. tone enriching ribbons. two separate ribbons. the white cleanses. the gold moisturizes and has a touch of mineral shimmer

to enhance skin's tone. olay tone enriching body wash. for skin that shimmers. i switched to a complete multivitamin with more. only one a day men's 50+ advantage... has gingko for memory and concentration. plus support for heart health. ( crowd roars ) that's a great call. one a day men's. and i was so tender to the touch-- but i didn't know why. my doctor diagnosed it as fibromyalgia. and then he recommended lyrica... fibromyalgia is thought to be the result of over-active nerves that cause chronic, widespread pain. lyrica is fda-approved to help relieve the unique pain of fibromyalgia. so now, i'm learning what a day is like with less pain. lyrica is not for everyone. tell your doctor about any serious allergic reaction that causes swelling or affects breathing or skin, or changes in eyesight including blurry vision or muscle pain with fever or tired feeling. lyrica may cause suicidal thoughts or actions

in a very small number of people. some of the most common side effects of lyrica are dizziness, sleepiness, weight gain and swelling of hands, legs, and feet. do not drink alcohol while taking lyrica. you should not drive or operate machinery until you know how lyrica affects you. could your pain be caused by fibromyalgia? ask your doctor about lyrica today. some terrifying moments

outside a michigan high school this morning, a shooting and later, another person found dead. now there are questions about why this happened in a town about 70 miles northwest of detroit. our report tonight from nbc news correspondent john yang. >> reporter: students from owes would sew high school were arriving for class this morning when james poullion, a well-known anti-abortion activist was gunned down from a passing vehicle. >> my son seen him laying there. >> reporter: witnesses reported the vehicle's license plate number and police trace it had to 33-year-old harlan drake. as they questioned him, police said drake made a startling statement about another killing that had taken place this morning. >> the time of his arrest, the suspect made statements that he was involved in another homicide in shiawassee county the same day. >> reporter: sect victim was michael fuoss, the owner of another gravel company. drake said he wanted to kill a third person but they caught him before he could carried it out

late this afternoon, drake was arraigned and charged with one count of possession of a felony firearm, one count of carrying a firearm and one count of felony murder. drake had not yet entered a plea. prosecutors say drake had grudges against all three targets but none were specifically related to anti or pro-abortion believes. tonight, the students who witnessed the killing and community who knew these men are left wondering why. john yang, nbc news, owes would sew, michigan. we learned today that larry gelbart has died in beverly hills. gelbart wrote so much of what made america laugh for so many years a 60-year career, including the big one, "m.a.s.h." films like "tootsie" and "oh, god," he worked with red button, sid sear sar and george burns. he continued writing until three weeks ago. larry gelbart, a giant of hollywood was 81 years old. oldest person in the world

died today in los angeles. we last saw gertrude baines when she celebrate herd 115th birthday last april. she is believed to be the granddaughter of former slaves. when she was born in 1894, grover cleveland was president. there was no such thing as penicillin and the u.s. flag had just 44 stars. she cleaned college dorm rooms for a living and she loved jerry springer, crispy bacon, fried chicken and ice cream. she was mentally alert until the very end. she lived long enough to vote for barack obama for president last november. again, gertrude baines was 115 years old. when we come back here tonight, spending american blood and treasure in afghanistan and why a growing number of influential voices are saying enough is enough. whether i'm at the batting cages... down by the lake or... fishing at the shore. i'm breathing better... with spiriva. announcer: spiriva is the only once-daily inhaled maintenance treatment for both forms of copd,

which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. i take it every day. it keeps my airways open... to help me breathe better all day long. and it's not a steroid. announcer: spiriva does not replace fast-acting inhalers for sudden symptoms. stop taking spiriva and call your doctor if your breathing suddenly worsens, your throat or tongue swells, you get hives, or have vision changes or eye pain. tell your doctor if you have glaucoma, problems passing urine or an enlarged prostate, as these may worsen with spiriva. also discuss the medicines you take, even eye drops. side effects may include dry mouth, constipation and trouble passing urine. my doctor said i could be doing more to breathe better and now i am. announcer: ask your doctor about lifestyle changes and once-daily spiriva.

this is humiliating. stand still so we can get an accurate reading. okay...um...eighteen pounds and a smidge. a smidge? y'know, there's really no need to weigh packages under 70 pounds. with priority mail flat rate boxes from the postal service, if it fits, it ships anywhere in the country for a low flat rate. cool. you know this scale is off by a good 7, 8 pounds. maybe five. priority mail flat rate boxes only from the postal service. a simpler way to ship. if you're using other moisturizing body washes,

you might as well be. you see, their moisturizer sits on top of skin, almost as if you're wearing it. only new dove deep moisture has nutriummoisture, a breakthrough formula with natural moisturizers... that can nourish deep down. it's the most effective natural nourishment ever. new dove deep moisture with nutriummoisture. superior natural nourishment for your skin. but i did. you need to talk to your doctor about aspirin. you need to be your own advocate. be sure to talk to your doctor before you begin an aspirin regimen. you take care of your kids, now it's time to take care of yourself.

we are back with nbc news "in depth" tonight. about it it is about the place where the 9/11 attacks took root, afghanistan, and now the fight over what america should do next. as we have been reporting, the military is expected to ask for thousands more boots on the ground. at the same time, a big leader in the senate is pushing new pressure on the white house not to put anymore american lives at stake there. nbc news pentagon correspondent, jim miklaszewski, has more on the war over this war. >> reporter: even as american commanders in afghanistan prepare to ask for more u.s. forces to fight the war, their biggest battle may be back in washington. today, the powerful chairman of the armed services committee, democratic senator carl levin, says he is against sending more american combat troops to afghanistan, but instead, would send military trainers to help expand the afghan military. >> we need a surge of afghan security forces, and we have not done nearly enough to put that in motion. >> reporter: house speaker nancy

pelosi is opposed to any additional u.s. forces. >> i don't think there is a great deal of support for sending more troops to afghanistan in the country or in the congress. >> reporter: and for the first time, the american public has turned against the afghanistan war n a recent poll, 51% said the war is not worth fighting. public support eroded as the situation in afghanistan is rapidly deteriorating. in the past two months, a record number of american forces have been killed in the war, while the taliban has been gaining ground a new study shows the taliban now has control over 80% of afghanistan, up from 54% only two years ago. to turn that around, the top commander in afghanistan, stan mcchrystal's new strategy is to undermine the taliban by providing more protection for the afghan people that could take large numbers of combat forces and mcchrystal is expected to ask for 25 to 40,000

addition aal troops, starting next year. >> the increase in u.s. forces we are talking about here is really meant to be a bridge this is a strategy that is designed to reduce the power of the insurgency while we build up the afghan national security forces. >> reporter: president obama has said afghanistan is a war the u.s. must win, but he may be caught between his military commanders and growing opposition to the war at home. white house officials say any decision on combat forces is still months away. jim ming will a she have ski, nbc news, the pentagon. when we come back, some of the many americans who are taking time out to make a difference where they live. the family budget? o beh here goes the good old steam. [ pfffft! ] whooa!!!! [ female announcer ] let bounty help... because it cleans the mess with less than the bargain brands. it's thick and absorbent. and really durable. in lab tests bounty absorbs twice as much as the bargain brand. [ steam hisses ] why use more when you can use less? bring it. with bounty. the thick quicker picker-upper. and try bounty napkins. now with new prints.

the one deal in the neighborhood where you get the real food. featuring a half rack of our new double-glazed baby back ribs with your choice of sauces. get one full-sized appetizer and two real entrees for just twenty bucks. it's 2 for $20. only at applebee's. so it's a typical morning when suddenly you see built ford tough trucks! the ground starts rumblin' like you just struck oil, and you know what? you did hit pay-dirt cause it's ford truck month. an' leading this herd is the ford f-150. it's not just a truck it's an f-150. and with great power comes great fuel economy. no wonder it was named 2009 motor trend truck of the year. now get 0 percent apr for 60 months or 45 hundred cash back on an 09 f-150. and ford credit is on board to help with the financing. for joint pain. for joint pain.

finally on this 9/11 anniversary, did you serve someone today or do you know someone who did? this was, after all, a national day of service. and so, tonight, we asked our own kevin tables to give us a snapshot of some of the millions of ordinary and extraordinary people who, day in and day out, are to out there making a difference. >> reporter: on a damp, somber morning, 100 rays of hope. >> these guys are the best guys that ever happened to this school.

>> reporter: these guys are members of the 100 black men organization. >> did you do your homework last night? >> reporter: volunteering to mentor boys, some of whom may not have a dad at this academy. >> i do this every day because it's needed every day. >> got to make sure it's straight. >> reporter: helping a boy become a man also means teaching him how to dress for success. >> everybody good? >> reporter: it was a day of hustle at the greater chicago food depository. volunteers gather by the dozens, filling boxes of food. >> we are here to be of service. >> i think we need to remember that we are a united states of america a. >> i wish i could do more than put a can in a box. >> but you are doing what you can do? >> i'm doing what i can do. >> reporter: this facility feeds a half million needy chicagoans every year. their message, every day is a good day to volunteer. in los angeles, volunteering to strengthen community and self.

>> take an hour or two from your life. it is not gonna kill you. it is going to help you, actually. >> reporter: there are members of girls inc., an organization that encourages young women to succeed. the first national day of service was spent touching up, cleaning up and sprucing up their school. >> it is a day we could start looking at as a day of rebirth and renewal. >> reporter: on this, the anniversary of an awful day, people giving of themselves in different ways, but with a common goal. ♪ ♪ we can make the world a better place for everyone ♪ >> reporter: kevin tibbles, nbc news, chicago. and that is our broadcast for this friday night and for this week. thank you for being with us. i'm brian williams. amy robach will be here with you tomorrow night. we hope to see you back here on monday night. in the meantime have a good monday night. in the meantime have a good weekend and good night. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com