East Meadow, N.Y. ? President Bush defied criticism and kept the 9-11 terrorist attacks at the center of his re-election campaign Thursday, somberly helping dedicate a new memorial to victims with a spade of dirt and hugs for the still grieving.

But barely had the earth slipped from his shovel at the memorial’s groundbreaking before critics leveled fresh charges for what they say is his exploitation of the tragedy for election-year gain.

The $750,000 memorial in this New York City suburb on Long Island, due to be finished by this year’s third anniversary of the attacks, is designed to commemorate the 281 people who were from or had ties to Nassau County and died.

Bush stood with New York politicians and relatives of 9-11 victims on a slope of ground where the memorial is to be built — the dedication ceremony’s prayer, moment of silence and mournful music from the kilt-wearing Nassau County Police bagpipe corps punctuated only by the eerie sight of a jetliner crossing low and directly overhead through the clear blue sky.

After pushing his shovel into the ground, Bush wiped an eye and then spent about an hour in private with family members, kissing and hugging many. He then headed to the other side of the park compound for a reception that raised $1.6 million from GOP donors for his re-election.

Though Bush didn’t speak at the ceremony, he told campaign contributors he will never forget the attacks, “when one era ended and another began,” or his emotional visit to the World Trade Center ruins days later.

“I will never relent in bringing justice to our enemies,” he said to loud applause. “I will defend the security of America, whatever it takes.”

He also used harsher language to again criticize likely Democratic rival John Kerry’s 1995 proposal to cut intelligence spending by $1.5 billion, mocking the Massachusetts senator’s argument that the money was “pointless, wasteful, antiquated and just plain silly.”

“Intelligence spending is necessary, not wasteful; it is important; it is a serious duty of our government and vital to the defense of this country,” Bush said.

The Kerry campaign has defended the proposal as being about ending “bloat” in an outdated intelligence budget geared toward rewarding defense contractors.

With polls showing the war on terror as his strongest suit, Bush and his aides have repeatedly said his response to the 2001 attacks is an example of the kind of leadership he has provided in office, and promises to continue to provide if re-elected in November. The president made clear last weekend that the attacks will stay at the heart of his campaign.

But critics say the issue isn’t whether the topic of the attacks and Bush’s response is fair game. They are upset he is using emotion-drenched images in his first round of campaign television ads that started airing last week.

John Lynch, 3, of New Hyde Park, N.Y., right, holds a picture of his father, firefighter Michael F. Lynch, as President Bush, left, comforts family members of 9-11 victims at a groundbreaking ceremony for a memorial in East Meadow, N.Y.