It's the politicians' caravan-New York Governor George Pataki and New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. The two men visit with the families inside the hotel and then head for the press podium in the parking lot. Giuliani commends the reporters on their conduct so far regarding the families' privacy. But when he visits the next morning, he is less complimentary, asking the press to leave the families alone as they depart for Halifax. Friday's story at the Ramada is the families' departure.
Reporters are back in the parking lot before the sun rises, doing live shots in the blue dawn.
A New York Times stringer arrives. They load three buses, one at a time. For the first time in two days, the parking lot is hushed as reporters watch the somber parade of people board each bus. Except for a smattering of hugs, little emotion is evident. Afterwards, photographers want to shoot the families boarding the plane, but are offered only a rooftop at the Delta terminal for a shot of the plane leaving the runway.