thanks for joining us. i'm j.c. hayward. it is a day nearly a decade in the making... u.s. special forces killed 9-11

mastermind osama bin laden. the forces stormed his compound in pakistan and then a fire fight ensued. after bin laden was killed, u.s. forces took custody and bin laden was buried at sea overnight. president barack obama says while bin laden's death is a major victory, the fight against terrorism is far from over. >> there's no doubt that al- qaeda will continue to pursue attacks against us. we must and we will remain vigilant at home and abroad. >> hundreds rallied outside the white house following words that bin laden was actually killed. people also gathered at the former site of the twin towers in new york. they flocked after the news came down that bin laden was dead. of course, you know more than 2700 people died in the september 11th attacks. a memorial, museum, and new office buildings are being

constructed on that site. and while many around the world and right here in the washington, d.c. area consider bin laden's death a good thing, you're likely to find tighter security at federal buildings and airports and metro stations. transit police have partnered with other law enforcement agencies in order to monitor possible retaliatory attacks. surae chinn joins us now from metro's chinatown station in northwest washington with more information. >> reporter: j.c., we witnessed a heightened sense of security here. what you'll find are more uniformed officers and what you'll also see and what they'll tell you is that they are more vigilant whenever and wherever throughout the transit systems. a robbery suspect was hiding out at metro brought additional police coming against traffic within seconds. canine and extra officers on high alert throughout the transit system. and customers appreciate it. >> i totally expect it.

after something like that happens, there's definitely going to be heightened security. >> reporter: folks are reacting follow the attack that killed terrorist leader and the mastermind behind the 9-11 attacks, osama bin laden. >> they finally got him. >> i don't think that it is right to be joyous over the death of someone. >> we're waiting for this moment. that's the best way to say it. >> i think it is a great accomplishment for the american forces. >> metro says there is enhanced security both seen and unseen to the public. >> when it comes to safety. >> they can't get home to colorado soon enough. >> i'm actually getting on a plane to colorado so i want to be home. more mixed reaction from others we talked with. >> not very nervous or scared about anything that's going to be done in retaliation. >> that's not to say that there couldn't be problems. >> we're from the west coast. i had no hesitation to come into the heart of d.c. today because i do feel safe. >> i don't think anything is going to happen but i feel safer back home. >> metro says the stepped up

security is for a precaution. a scheduled press conference is scheduled in less than an hour with a transit police department and with the police chief at metro headquarters. reporting live outside of the chinatown metro station, back to you, j.c. >> surae chinn, thank you very much. some went to the pentagon memorial in order to remember those who were killed there. however, the fact that bin laden is dead has some people on edge. jessica doyle joins us live from the pentagon memorial with more reaction. >> reporter: good morning, j.c. retaliatory attacks, there are concerns about that. that is hinging the relief that some folks are feeling at the death of the world's most wanted man. police are on heightened alert throughout the washington area and officials are warning there will be shows of force in and around hotels, transit and government buildings. helicopter patrols, police checkpoints, bomb-sniffing dogs.

tight security in place around the nation's capitol after the death of the 9-11 mastermind. shannon noble carried on as normal this morning. >> i run by the pentagon a lot but i made a special stop to stop at the 9-11 memorial after last night's events. >> reporter: in the shadow of the pentagon, in the memorial to the 184 who lost their lives on september 11th, there is a plaque that reads we will never forget and this morning, americans are remembering that awful day and they're not forgetting the security risks that al-qaeda still poses. >> you do flash back. >> larry kaplan was working at the pentagon on 9-11. he feels vindicated but is not letting down his guard. >> the fact of the matter is just killing osama bin laden doesn't end the war on terrorism but it is a significant milestone. so, we're just going to have to wait and be vigilant and continue with our security measures. >> matthew ruby has concerns, too. >> i've always been on high alert looking for activity.

i'll be alarmed and look around to see what's going on, keep my eye out. >> reporter: at reagan national airport, there was also a show of security. changes to passenger screening since 9-11 are part of the reason why bruce barnes wasn't afraid to fly today. >> i had to take my shoes off. but if that makes it a sense of feeling safe, i'll take my shoes off. >> john gloves hopes for a new normal now that osama bin laden is dead. >> get america back to america now, i hope. >> reporter: j.c., i can tell you the department of homeland security gay 9news now a statement saying the nation remains at a heightened state of vigilance but homeland security does not plan to change any security levels unless it receives "credible or specific information that they can convey to the american people." back to you. >> thank you very much. we're beginning to hear from families who lost loved ones in the september 11th attacks. michelle heidenberger was the lead flight attendant on

american airlines flight 77. her husband, thomas spoke to andrea roane on 9news now this morning. >> my initial reaction is that we've been able to close one chapter in this large volume of quote-unquote history. but at the end of the day, it will not bring michelle back. it will not bring back the 3,000 victims of that day. >> terrorists took over the jet shortly after taking off from dulles airport and crashed it into the pentagon. killing 184 people. all right, let's go now to the white house where the president is making a statement. >> families of henry and anthony who have given their loved ones to this nation and who have kept their memories alive for this very moment. by your grace, may we never forget their sacrifice in your holy name, amen.

>> amen. >> good morning, everybody. please be seated. on behalf of michelle and myself, welcome to the white house. to our many guests from hawaii, aloha. and thank you, chaplain carver for that wonderful invocation. i think we can all agree this is a good day for america. our country has kept its commitment to see that justice is done. the world is safer. it is a better place because of the death of osama bin laden. today, we're reminded that, as a nation, there's nothing we can't do. when we put our shoulders to the wheel, when we work together, when we remember the sense of unity that defines us

as americans. and we've seen that spirit, that patriotism and the crowds that have gathered here outside the white house, ground zero and new york and across the country. people holding candles, waving the flag, singing the national anthem, people proud to live in the united states of america. and we're reminded that we're fortunate to have americans who dedicate their lives to protecting ours. they volunteer. they train. they endure separation from their families. they take extraordinary risks so that we can be safe. they get the job done. we may not always know their names. we may not always know their stories. but they are there, every day, on the front lines of freedom and we're truly blessed. i do want to acknowledge,

before we begin the ceremony, two individuals who have been critical as part of my team here today, first of all, i think somebody who will go down as one of the finest secretaries of defense in our history, secretary bob gates who is here. [ applause ] and sitting beside him, someone who served with incredible valor on behalf of this country and is now somebody who i think will go down as one of the greatest secretaries of veterans affairs in our history, eric shineski. [ applause ]

>> i have to say that, as commander in chief, i could not be prouder of our men and women in uniform. that is true now in today's wars. it has been true in all of our wars. and it is why we are here today. long ago, a poet of the first world war wrote of the sacrifice of young soldiers in war. they shall not grow old as we that are left grow old. age shall not weary them nor the years condemn. the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. today, we are joined by two american families who six decades ago gave our nation one of their own.

private first class henry servala and private first class eric. these two soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice when they were just 19 and 21 years old. >> we're look live at president obama at the white house conducting a medal of honor ceremony and of course, reacting to the death of osama bin laden. we're covering this story throughout the day. we will have reaction from neighbors. we will also have analysis from terrorism experts on our web site. go to wusa9.com. and we will have complete coverage on 9news now this evening beginning at 5:00 p.m. that will be followed by an hour special of the "cbs evening news" from 6:30 until

7:30 and 9news now will continue at 7:30 p.m. this region-- this evening.

>> the security forces of the united states of america. for the president of the united

states, obama. >> elle this morning, israeli president shimon peres spoke about the killing of osama bin laden by u.s. forces. and while peres believes that bin laden's death is a major blow to al-qaeda, many believe it could lead to more violence. this death is bringing mixed reaction from around the world. from relief to revenge. charlie d'agata has more on what the rest of the world thinks. >> people danced in the streets of yemen when they learned osama bin laden is dead. this man says his killing was right. but al-qaeda also has supporters in yemen. they say his won't weaken the terror group. if bin laden has really been killed, he says, a thousand osama bin ladens will appear, god willing. the taliban and pakistan is promising to attack the u.s. and pakistan over his death.

in gaza, the leader of hamas condemned the u.s. mission, calling bin laden an arab holy warrior. but israel's prime minister called it an historic day. governments across europe are reviewing security measures on alert for revenge attacks. many americans traveling overseas say they're not changing their travel plans. >> it is sad that there is a travel advisory. it really didn't affect me when i heard it. i thought i would still enjoy vacation. >> britain which has been a target is on high alert because of its close ties to america. >> an organization like al- qaeda will want to show that it can strike back if it can. >> reporter: pauline and charles berkeley lost their son in the 9-11 attacks. >> we wouldn't normally rejoice at the death of someone but i'm afraid he was a very wicked man. >> reporter: a man who had many followers and intelligence experts warn they're likely to try to avenge bin laden's

death. charlie d'agata, cbs news, rome. coming up next, anny hong will have our forecast. >> j.c., the sun is out. we'll be warming up but boy, do we see some changes coming this way. i'll let you know when the next storm hits our area when 9news now returns.

anny says we're going to have nice weather today and tomorrow. >> yeah, then some big changes come this way. get outside now if you can. we're looking at cooler conditions the next couple of days, j.c. so, outside, yeah, the sun is coming out. even the clouds are breaking off. it will help us warm things up quite nicely for today. in fact, above average. here is a look at your day planner for today. mid-70s by 3:00. and by 6:00, partly cloudy. around 72. right now, it is 68 degrees under cloudy skies at reagan national. here in northwest d.c., we're look at partly sunny skies already. the satellite radar picture shows we saw some light showers go through earlier this morning but now we're drying out and in fact, the clouds are starting to break up. right now, temperatures are getting up there. upper 60s for d.c. already 72 in manassas. fredericksburg, 76 degrees. coming up from the south,

hagerstown at 63 degrees at this hour on this monday. here is a look at the forecast. you can see generally by 5:00 tonight, we're not worried about showers for d.c. they're off well to the north and west of us. but then things will change over time. we will continue to warm things up even more so on tuesday. but then by tuesday, at 6:00, there is the clock. you can see showers start to come in tuesday night, overnight into wednesday. we have a chance though, we can see some thunderstorms with this system. that cold front is going to come on through. we'll really feel the effects of that front by wednesday. also, slight chance that some of the thunderstorms from tuesday into wednesday could also be severe. so, we're watching that possibility. but for today, no storms to worry about. becoming partly cloudy. breezy and warmer. highs will be around near 75 degrees. look for south winds at 10 to 15 miles per hour. sunset at 8:01 this evening. generally mid-70s for d.c., gaithersburg. 80s from manassas.

martinsburg, you'll warm up to 77 degrees. annapolis, close to 70 on this monday. here is a look at your seven- day forecast, so, we warm up to the 80s by tomorrow. we start out nice. but some changes come really tuesday into wednesday. showers, thunderstorms and some rain. then we cool down to 60s by wednesday. but then we dry out for thursday. highs in the upper 60s. on friday, around 72 degrees. we'll make maybe have a slight chance for showers. the weekend looks pretty good. saturday, 75 and partly cloudy conditions. on sunday, mostly cloudy. highs around 70. a slight chance for some showers. i'm peggy fox with momslikeme.com. mothers day is coming up this weekend and it is a time we want to reach out and tell our own mom she's loved but there are also some opportunities we can reach out and help other moms in need. and tell them how much they're appreciated. you can write little notes for meals on wheels. enid is here with meals on

wheels. >> what the notes are is we're starting a campaign that should didn't through the weekend. we're trying to deliver 50,000 messages of hope to senior moms who are behind closed doors hidden away from society and they're hungry. what we're trying to say to them is we know you're there. we care about you, we'll serve you a nutritious meal and give you a card for mother's day. >> excellent. we also have linda here. she's of real housewives d.c. fame and also with tac artist agency. tell me about your project and the beautiful beauty within bags. >> we started beauty within 11 years doesn't to recognize the women who are living in relief shelters with their children and i felt that was very sad to not have something special for them. so, i have four children and what we do through the agency is we organize with our clients, the major department stores, our talent, the models and stylists gather all of their goodies throughout the year.

they deliver to the agency. >> you're collecting all sorts of things, right? here is the drop-off location if you have something to drop off. we want you to take it here. you have through friday. help these women in need out and you can find more information on momslikeme.com.

switching to progressive could mean hundreds more in your wallet year after year. feed me! saving you money -- now, that's progressive. call or click today. our coverage on the death of osama bin laden will continue on 9 must now beginning at 5:00 p.m. followed by an hour long special of the "cbs evening news." that begins at 6:30. and then 9news now at 7:00 will air in its entirety at 7:30

p.m. go to our web site, wusa9.com for full details on the story throughout the day. that's 9news now at noon. we'll be back at 5:00 p.m. we hope you have a great day.