People across America remembered the victims of the 9/11 terror attacks on Sunday (11 September), marking fifteen years since the hijacking of four passenger planes, which killed 2,996 people and injured more than 6,000.
People watch as US President Barack Obama, Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Joint Chiefs Chair General Joseph Dunford take part in a ceremony marking the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks at the Pentagon in WashingtonJoshua Roberts/ Reuters
New York City saw various memorials take place, including a name recital of those killed, tolling of church bells and a tribute in lights at the site where the twin towers collapsed. Relatives in the crowd held up photographs of their loved ones, along with messages and signs reading "never forgotten" or '"gone too soon." Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton was among those who attended the memorial, but fell ill and left during the ceremony. Prior to her departure, Clinton said in a statement that the horror would never be forgotten as she paid tribute to the victims and first responders. Her rival, Republican nominee Donald Trump, was also in attendance.
Members of NYPD join in the procession in Lower Manhattan to mark the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and the police officers who were killed during and after the eventSpencer Platt/ Getty ImagesThe 'Tribute in Light' illuminates the night sky as viewed from the National September 11 Memorial in New York CityDrew Angerer/ Getty ImagesA man looks into the south reflecting pool at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum on the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in Manhattan, New York CityAndrew Kelly/ ReutersPolice pause during a procession in Lower Manhattan to mark the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and the police officers who were killed during and after the event in New York CitySpencer Platt/ Getty ImagesNew York City Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks to US Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton during a memorial service at the National 9/11 Memorial in New York CityBrendan Smialowski/ AFPUS Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks to former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg during a memorial service at the National 9/11 Memorial in New YorkBrendan Smialowski/ AFPIt was too much for some at the 9/11 memorial in New YorkBrendan Smialowski/ AFP
The ceremony paused for six moments of silence: four to mark the exact times four hijacked planes were crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon near Washington D.C. and a Pennsylvania field. The last two record when the North and South towers of the Trade Center collapsed.
Emergency Medical Services worker Joseph Sunshine holds a framed picture of his colleagues who died in the attacks in Manhattan, New YorkAndrew Kelly/ ReutersA young girl hugs her mother during a commemoration ceremony for the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum fifteen years after the day in New York CitySpencer Platt/ Getty ImagesPeople hold up photos of their loved ones during ceremony for the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York CitySpencer Platt/ Getty ImagesA girl sits on a man's shoulders during a commemoration ceremony for the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York CitySpencer Platt/ Getty ImagesGabriella Ortiz reaches up to point to the name of her grandfather fallen New York City Police officer Edwin Ortiz at a wall commemorating fallen officers in New York CitySpencer Platt/ Getty ImagesNneoma Ukaegbu of New York looks in to the south reflecting pool at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum on the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in Manhattan, New YorkAndrew Kelly/ Reuters
US President Barack Obama took part in a wreath-laying ceremony outside the Pentagon, the site of the third attack. The ceremony saw hundreds of attendees stand to observe one minute's silence for the 184 lives that were lost there. Hundreds of family members of the victims came to the ceremony. Many said that 15 years later, they do not feel any safer from terror attacks.
"Everybody remembers on 9/11, but for us it's every day," Devora Pontell told Reuters. Pontell lost her husband Darin, a naval officer, in the attack. "The way the country is now, we're just going to keep seeing these attacks and it's just very unfortunate. I'd hate to think Darin and all these people died on 9/11 for no reason. We clearly didn't learn enough lessons and clearly haven't taken enough to keep us safe. If you go through security at the airports, I don't feel any safer."
An American flag is draped over the Pentagon where it was hit by an airliner 15 years ago in Arlington, VirginiaMark Wilson/ Getty ImagesUS President Barack Obama speaks during a ceremony commemorating the September 11, 2001 attacks at the Pentagon in Washington, DCNicholas Kamm/ AFPFamily members sit on a memorial bench before the observance ceremony to mark the15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks at the Pentagon Memorial in Washington DC SeptemberJose Luis Magana/ AFPUS President Barack Obama lays a wreath during a ceremony to mark the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorists attacks at the Pentagon Memorial in Arlington, VirginiaMark Wilson/ Getty Images
In Shanksville, Pennsylvania, hundreds of people gathered in a field, to pay tribute to the 40 passengers and crew who died on United Airlines Flight 93. The domestic flight was hijacked by four al-Qaeda terrorists and crashed during an attempt by the passengers and crew to regain control. The names of the dead were read, with bells tolling in their memory. A 2,200-acre memorial park in Shanksville features a wall of names that partially surrounds a field where the flight went down.
A solitary visitor views the September 11, 2016 sunrise at the Flight 93 National Memorial before the 15th Anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks in Shanksville, PAJeff Swensen/ Getty ImagesBell ringers ring memorial bells once after each victim's name is spoken at the Flight 93 National Memorial on the 15th Anniversary ceremony of the September 11th terrorist attacks, in Shanksville, PAJeff Swensen/ Getty ImagesVisitors dressed in red, white and blue listen to speakers at the Flight 93 National Memorial during the 15th Anniversary ceremony of the September 11th terrorist attacks in Shanksville, PAJeff Swensen/ Getty ImagesVisitors at the Wall of Names at the Flight 93 National Memorial on the 15th Anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks in Shanksville, PAJeff Swensen/ Getty ImagesVisitors listen to speakers at the Flight 93 National Memorial during the 15th Anniversary ceremony of the September 11th terrorist attacks in Shanksville, PAJeff Swensen/ Getty ImagesVisitors view the flight path of United Flight 93 from the overlook at the Flight 93 National Memorial on the 15th Anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks in Shanksville, PAJeff Swensen/ Getty ImagesA visitor traces the date etched in a marble slab on the Wall of Names at the Flight 93 National Memorial before the 15th Anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks in Shanksville, PAJeff Swensen/ Getty Images
