All over the nation, memorials were held on the morning of Thursday, Sept. 11, remembering the thousands of victims who were killed in the terrorist attacks 13 years ago, including a number of first responders who died trying to save the lives of civilians.
In San Diego, 900 people climbed the stairs of the Hilton San Diego Bay Front Hotel, holding photos of victims. The hotel was chosen because it has 110 floors – the same number of floors as the World Trade Center, noted ABC 10 News. To honor first responders, many participants wore SWAT and firefighter apparel. Similar tributes were organized in Ohio, Florida and Texas and all over the country.
Back in New York, blue rays of light emerged from the former location of the Twin Towers on Wednesday night. In the morning, Lower Manhattan observed a moment of silence for the fallen at 8:46 and 9:03, the times when the planes hit the towers, according to The New York Times. Family members of victims read the names of their loved ones out loud in a memorial ceremony.
In Washington D.C., the Pentagon, another building that was attacked, unveiled an American flag on its side as the sun rose. This was followed by a remembrance ceremony hosted by President Obama for families who lost loved ones in the attacks, according to NBC Washington. The president gave a speech commending the strength of these families and the nation as a whole.