‘Never forget’ — US marks 22 years after 9/11

NEW YORK: Bells were rung and the names of nearly 3,000 people were read out in somber ceremonies in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania on Monday to mark the 22nd anniversary of the al-Qaeda attack on the United States.

Vice President Kamala Harris and current and former mayors of New York joined victims´ families at the 9/11 memorial on the site of the World Trade Centre twin towers brought down by two aircraft flown by hijackers.

The names of the more than 2,600 who died in New York were read out by family members and young relatives not alive at the time of the attack.

“I wish I had a chance to really know you. Everyone in the family misses you. We will never forget,” said the grandson of firefighter Allan Tarasiewicz, who was killed aged 45 during rescue operations at the World Trade Centre.

At the Pentagon in Washington, where the attackers plunged a third aircraft into the headquarters of the US military, a sailor rang a ship´s bell for each of the 184 killed there.

And in western Pennsylvania, where a fourth hijacked plane apparently heading toward Washington was forced to crash, bells were rung for each of the 40 passengers and crew that died.

“September 11 made America a nation at war, and hundreds of thousands stepped up to serve our country in uniform,” Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said at the Pentagon ceremony. “I know that it aches to remember this milestone year after year . . . . The men and women of the Department of Defence will always remember.”

Across New York City, in Congress and elsewhere, a moment of silence was held to mark the attack, plotted by al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, who was found and killed nearly a decade later by US Navy Seals in a raid.

On that day, “we were one country, one nation, one people, just like it should be. That was the feeling — that everyone came together and did what we could, where we were at, to try to help,” Eddie Ferguson, the fire-rescue chief in Virginia’s Goochland County, said in an interview before the anniversary.

The predominantly rural county of 25,000 people, more than 160-km from the Pentagon, has a Sept 11 memorial and holds two anniversary commemorations, one focused on first responders and another honoring all the victims.

“Though we never met, I am honoured to carry your name and legacy with me,” said Manuel João DaMota Jr., who was born after his father and namesake died.

Jason Inoa, 20, found it nerve-wracking to tell the crowd about his grandfather, Jorge Velazquez. But Inoa did it for his grandmother, who has Alzheimer’s disease. “The one thing she does remember is her husband,” he said afterward.