Thousands of family members carrying framed pictures of their loved ones and wearing white ribbons of mourning arrived at Ground Zero in New York today to mark the fourth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attack that killed 2,749 people.
The roll of the lost began with Gordon M Aamoth Jr., an investment bank employee. Then, one after another, the names echoed across the site where the World Trade Centre towers collapsed four years ago in a nightmarish cloud of dust and debris.
One of the many bouquets of flowers at Ground Zero. Phot: Getty Images
Three hundred and twenty pairs of siblings were reading the names of the dead as hundreds of relatives, friends and colleagues watched in pained silence, some holding aloft portraits of their loved ones.
Relatives bowed their heads and wiped away tears as speakers uttered brief, personal messages of remembrance to the brothers and sisters they lost.
"You're still our hero, please keep watching over us," Elizabeth Ahearn said to her brother, fire lieutenant Brian Ahearn.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg opened the ceremony with words of condolence for the families devastated by the London Underground attacks, and the thousands uprooted and grieving in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
"Today, as we recite the names of those we lost, our hearts turn as well toward London, our sister city, remembering those she has just lost as well," Bloomberg said.
"And to Americans suffering in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, our deepest sympathies go out to you this day."
The trade centre site fell silent at 8.46am (1.46 pm Irish time), the time at which a hijacked jetliner crashed into the north tower and at 9.03am local time (2.03 pm), the moment a second plane struck the south tower. Moments of silence also took place at 9.59 am and 10.29 am, the precise times when each tower collapsed.
Among those reciting the names of the dead were Cynthia, John, Jane and Neil Olson - who lost their 31-year-old firefighter brother in the attack, Jeffrey James Olson.
"We feel that our family died that day," said their mother, Carol Olson of Staten Island, who said she believed the ceremony would provide some healing. "He's always missing - on every birthday and every holiday."
The city asked houses of worship to toll their bells throughout shortly after each moment of silence. Mr Bloomberg, Governor George Pataki, former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made commemorative readings at the ceremony.
In Washington, President George Bush marked the anniversary by also observing the first moment of silence. Joined by his wife, Laura, the president stood on the South Lawn during the simple ceremony that has been repeated each year since the attack.
He began the day at a prayer service at St John's Episcopal Church on Lafayette Park across from the White House.
Later, he was flying to New Orleans to spend the night in the hurricane-devastated city. Tomorrow, he planned to tour Gulfport, Mississippi
Other memorials planned today included a Port Authority of New York and New Jersey service for the 84 employees it lost on September 11. Firefighters planned to roll out their trucks and other equipment in front of their firehouses to observe the moment of silence. The Fire Department lost 343 firefighters in the attack.
As in past years, some victims' relatives will be allowed to lay flowers at the towers' footprints. At night, two blue light beams inspired by the twin towers will be projected upward. The "Tribute in Light" will fade away at dawn tomorrow.
Mourners worldwide also marked the anniversary of the attacks with memorials and calls for peace.
AP