Four days after the killing of Osama bin Laden, President Barack Obama visited Ground Zero in lower Manhattan, where he met with families of 9/11 victims and laid a wreath of flowers at the 9/11 memorial.

Thousands of New Yorkers turned out to see the President and to share in a unique event where what is often termed "the saddest part of New York" turned, if only briefly, into the happiest.

Below and on the following pages are images taken during the event by National Underwriter Life & Health Editors Bill Coffin and Michael K. Stanley, who were on hand to witness the occasion and compiled this photo essay.