Malloy to Ground Zero with POTUS

Stamford resident Dionne Layne, facing camera, hugs Mary Power as they react to the news of the death of Osama bin Laden in New York Monday. At left is 1 World Trade Center, also known as the Freedom Tower, which is under construction. Photo by Mark Lennihan/Associated Press

At the invitation of President Obama, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony Thursday at the 9/11 memorial on the World Trade Center site.

“Governor Malloy is appreciative that President Obama invited him to the wreath-laying ceremony at Ground Zero, and he is going there to represent the people in Connecticut who died on 9/11, as well as their family members and loved ones,” said Colleen Flanagan, a spokeswoman for the governor.

Malloy had been scheduled to be the keynote speaker at Greenwich Bar Association law day luncheon but is sending former state Sen. Andrew McDonald, D-Stamford, who left his post to become the governor’s general counsel, according to organizers of the event.

In addition to the wreath placement ceremony, political dignitaries led by the POTUS are scheduled to meet with families of the Sept. 11 victims and first responders.

No word on whether New Jersey GOP Gov. Chris Christie, who has been dubbed the anti-Malloy, will be there.

Malloy was mayor of Stamford during the attacks, which took a heavy toll on the city.

Developing….

Neil Vigdor