Americans honored Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday with a traditional day of service as well as a new wave of economic injustice protests by Occupy Wall Street.

On the first King holiday since the now-global Occupy movement launched in New York City in September, the reignited debate over inequality drew hundreds of protestors to march in wintry temperatures in Manhattan, stopping at a Bank of America branch to shout, “The banks got bailed out, we got sold out.”

New York (CNN) — Thousands gathered Sunday morning at New York’s Ground Zero, stood still in silence, some crying as they listened to the names of victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks were read aloud.

“They were our neighbors, our friends, our wives, children and parents,” said New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who, along with President Barack Obama, helped lead the commemoration on the 10th anniversary of the attacks.

The solemn ceremony at the site of the World Trade Center came amid a heavy security presence permeating the area in lower Manhattan, as authorities continued their search for possible plotters of another terrorist strike.

STROUD TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A man who has been growing his hair for 27 years had it hacked off for a good cause Thursday morning. He’s donating his ponytail to Locks of Love, an organization that makes wigs for people battling cancer.

Dan McGuinness of Long Pond squirmed as scissors snipped more than a foot of his hair. He hasn’t had it cut since he left the service in 1984. At first he let it grow because he was rebelling against the military rule of cutting it often. Then he became a radio DJ and thought the look fit his rock and roll life style.

WASHINGTON — Americans from Washington to California are marking Memorial Day with parades, barbecues and special tributes tied to the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

An annual holiday honoring the nation’s war dead was infused with new meaning this year, coming just months before the 10-year anniversary.

There was a bit more pomp and considerably more circumstance than usual at the Falkville High School graduation ceremonies Monday night. Marching alongside the fresh-faced Alabama seniors ready to make their way in the world was 95-year-old Earlene Harvey-Morris, whose own dreams of a diploma were snatched away from her 77 years ago

Thousands stuffed the bleachers on both sides of a California high school football field Monday night to remember a beloved teacher who was slain in Mexico a few days ago.

Grieving family members, friends and residents of El Monte, California, waved glowsticks in the air and listened to heartfelt stories about how Augustin Roberto “Bobby” Salcedo was a devoted family man and an inspirational educator. They heard, too, that he was a practical jokester who made people laugh.

RITTMAN DISTRICT — Asking all 18- and 19-year-olds to stand, Gary Maibach urged Rittman students to look at the teenagers.

Those are the ones asked to serve their country in the military, Maibach said, not gray-haired grandfathers.

Maibach, who served as a medic in the Army during the Vietnam War, encouraged the students to seek out veterans, shake their hands, thank them for their service and listen to their stories, if they are willing to share them.

Maibach was the guest speaker during Rittman High School’s Veterans Day program Tuesday, which is held every other year and is organized by the Quest Class.

“Veterans, generally, do not go forward to talk about their experiences,” Maibach said, adding later, “don’t press them.”

New York (CNN) — Long Island native Louis DiLeo began his music career as a child. As an adult, he spends his days blowing the same sad song: taps.

As the sole bugler for the southern region of New York’s Military Forces Honor Guard — part of the state National Guard — DiLeo travels five days a week from cemetery to cemetery, playing at funerals of military servicemen and women and veterans. He started three years ago and hasn’t missed a day since.

For DiLeo, playing taps at the funerals of men and women who served the country holds significant meaning.

WASHINGTON – The once-indefatigable Ted Kennedy was in a wheelchair at the end, struggling to speak and sapped of his energy. But from the time his brain cancer was diagnosed 15 months ago, he spoke of having a “good ending for myself,” in whatever time he had left, and by every account, he did.

As recently as a few days ago, Mr. Kennedy was still digging into big bowls of mocha chip and butter crunch ice creams, all smushed together (as he liked it). He and his wife, Vicki, had been watching every James Bond movie and episode of “24” on DVD.

(CBS/AP) With the nation’s attention turned to President-elect Barack Obama’s anticipated inauguration Tuesday, the celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day may have gotten lost in the shuffle in parts of the country.

In Hempstead, NY, the annual parade marking the birthday of the famed civil rights leader was canceled as too many dignitaries were off in Washington, D.C., to take part in another pivotal moment in the history of race relations in America – the swearing in of the first African-American president, just across the National Mall from the spot where King delivered his famous “I Have A Dream” speech in 1963.