Tearful Americans, many clutching miniature U.S. flags, gathered by the thousands across the nation Wednesday to mark the anniversary of the worst terrorist attack on American soil.
Last Sept. 11, hijacked jetliners slammed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field, drawing a reluctant nation into battle with Muslim extremists bent on recreating the golden age of Islam.
From Ground Zero in New York, the gaping hole where the best-known symbol of U.S. economic might once stood, and the Pentagon, where the headquarters of U.S. military might has been fully restored, to U.S. protectorates and territories far from American shores, more than 340 cities staged official memorials, virtually all calling for moments of silence to pay homage to the more than 3,000 people who died at the hands of terrorists trained by Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden's al Qaida network.
The nation was on high alert as the names of the dead were read at Ground Zero.
Thousands of New Yorkers opposed to a U.S. invasion of Iraq spent Wednesday in silent anti-war demonstrations. At two protests in downtown New York parks, protesters called on President Bush to avoid armed conflict in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
"We remain silent but our message comes across loud and clear," said Elisa Higbey, a member of an anti-war group called New Yorkers Say No to War. "We want to see an end to violence all over the world."
On the Upper West Side, Eduardo Ramirez, 45, surrounded the doorway outside his brownstone with red, white and blue memorial candles. Leaning on the wall nearby was a placard with a picture of a friend who died in the World Trade Center attack.
"I am glad we have a day where we can remember," he said. "It's important that we never forget those who didn't make it out."
Chicago-based insurance giant Aon, which lost 175 employees in the twin towers' collapse, took out full-page newspaper ads, reading: "We will always remember our friends and family September 11, 2001." They're signed simply, "Aon." The rest of the ad is white space.
"Today's service is about remembering and about hope," actor Gary Sinise told those who jammed Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago for a lunchtime tribute highlighted by a non-denominational prayer read by seven religious leaders. The gathering was notable for its lack of speeches by any politicians. The city estimated the crowd at 175,000 from aerial photographs with another 15,000 observing events from a Jumbotron on Pioneer Court, a few blocks away.
The Daley Center's proscenium archway was adorned with more than 3,000 flowers -- one for each of the victims. Church bells tolled as attendees observed 3 minutes of silence.
At the Sears Tower, one of the world's tallest buildings, a number of companies decided to close for the day. Extra security personnel could be seen standing outside the building's entrances and 3-foot-high concrete barriers painted red, white and blue were in place to keep vehicles away.
Some people found it difficult to look at the black structure that soars 1,450 feet, actually turning their heads away as they passed.
"It's just too creepy to think about. It could just as easily have been us (that was hit) last year, and memorial services taking place in Chicago instead of New York," said Jack Towers of suburban Arlington Heights, Ill.
Many commuters wore red, white and blue clothing -- dresses, neckties and scarves -- in a show of patriotism, and some cars flew small American flags.
Somber security personnel, airline workers and passengers stood for an emotional moment of silence at O'Hare International Airport to remember the victims at the exact time the first plane slammed into the World Trade Center. "God Bless America" was played on the public address system.
In Washington, emergency dispatchers imposed a minute of radio silence on all police and firefighter frequencies and ordered all emergency lights on to honor the many police and firefighters killed trying to save others.
"It is not how they died but how they lived that make them heroes," a dispatcher said on all channels. "You may now resume transmissions. Let's all be careful out there."
In Boston, from where two of the jetliners were hijacked, Acting Gov. Jane Swift led a memorial service on the steps of the Massachusetts Statehouse and a reading of the names of the 93 Massachusetts residents killed on Sept. 11.
Amid stepped-up security, Swift and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino had urged residents to attend memorial events despite the "orange alert" issued by the federal government.
"I encourage people to come out and participate in the national remembrances," Swift said, "and to know we have taken all necessary precautionary measures to assure their safety."
Menino and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., hosted a "Celebration of Life" memorial service at historic Faneuil Hall in downtown Boston, where the names of the Massachusetts residents killed were also read.
In Detroit, 16 doves were released above Hart Plaza as hundreds gathered for an early-morning ceremony.
"It's been a difficult year; there's anger, and there's sadness,'' said Detroit resident Jean Neal, whose sister died at the World Trade Center. "My sister was the baby of our family, and there is a void, but we have to look forward and show those who did this that they did not win. We will move on.''
Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick said Wednesday was "a day we stand up together and affirm that we will never go backward and fall victim to hatred. We are rising up and engaging our future.''
Indiana Gov. Frank O'Bannon and Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson spoke at an outdoor ceremony.
"Sept. 11 will never pass again without a pause to remember the terrible shock of that day and the terrible toll it took," O'Bannon told at least 1,500 people at the Statehouse.
"I challenge you to dwell not only on what we lost but what we have gained."
The design for a memorial to Texans who died in the attacks and in the war against terrorism was unveiled Wednesday at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, the burial ground of Stephen F. Austin and other Texas heroes.
Gov. Rick Perry announced the winning design, selected from nearly 40 entries, during a ceremony attended by the parents of two Texans killed in Afghanistan, Sgt. 1st Class Nathan Chapman and Staff Sgt. Brian Craig.
"We who live today must make a solemn vow: to always honor the victims of Sept. 11 and those who lost their lives in this fight against terrorism," Perry said.
The memorial will include two steel beams recovered from Ground Zero, standing vertically inside a circle of granite walls inscribed with the events of Sept. 11. The visitor can walk inside and touch the battered beams, which stand on a star representing Texas.
Five Texans died in the collapse of the World Trade Center towers and three Texas soldiers have died in action in Afghanistan.
In DeWitt, N.Y., a five-ton, 21 1/2-foot steel beam from the World Trade Center's U.S. Custom House, Building 6, which was destroyed during the terrorist attack, was dedicated during a memorial service at Town Hall.
In California, Gov. Gray Davis joined survivors, victims' families, soldiers, firefighters and police on the east steps of the Capitol in Sacramento.
"It happened thousands of miles away. But it hurt us as if were right here. It felt like a death in the family -- because it was," Davis said. "On the first anniversary of Sept. 11, we turn our heads and our hearts to the East. And we offer this covenant to our national family: You are not alone. We stand with you. On this hallowed day, every place in America is Ground Zero."
Los Angeles staged a "memorial procession" across much of the city -- a convoy that included a fire truck, police cars, Red Cross van and a military Humvee. The trip started at 5:45 a.m. PDT with a tree planting in honor of the 54 Californians killed in the attacks. Stops included ceremonies at City Hall and the new Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels.
"With three of the crashed planes headed for Los Angeles and L.A. city firefighters sent to New York to help with the rescue efforts, the impacts of Sept. 11 were of great significance for residents of Los Angeles," Mayor Jim Hahn said.
At the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, those marking the event engaged in a 15-second group hug followed by 45 seconds of silent contemplation at midday. Participants in the Sept. 11 Memorial Hug had hoped to break the record for such an event but fell far shy of the 2,931 people necessary.
In Oklahoma City, survivors and families of some of the 168 people killed seven years ago in the federal building bombing gathered Tuesday night for a candlelight vigil honoring the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks.
About 100 people gathered under the branches of the Survivor Tree, a giant elm that survived the blast and is now part of the Oklahoma City National Memorial, which sits on the site of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. Kathleen Treanor, who lost her 4-year-old daughter Ashley, said they feel close to the Sept. 11 victims.
"This is just families and survivors and rescue personnel," she said. "We're standing shoulder to shoulder with our comrades in pain in New York and Washington, D.C."
Treanor traveled to New York last year to help victims cope with the tragedy.
One of the organizers read a letter from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who said Oklahoma City and New York are linked forever by their mutual tragedies.
Late Wednesday, The Bunker, a bar near Watertown, Wis., about 40 miles west of Milwaukee, planned a "Burn bin Laden" party. Bar owner Jeff Hartzheim, a Vietnam veteran, said he realizes his antics may offend some, but "it's all in fun."
The tributes weren't limited to live events. Yahoo! set up a special page on its Web site, dir.remember.yahoo.com/tribute, inviting people to share their thoughts.
