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JACKSONVILLE, Fla.-Neither time nor distance has erased the pain of losing thousands of American lives on Sept. 11, 2001.Memorials took place across the country Tuesday-the sixth anniversary of the terrorist attacks-the largest attracting a large crowd under gray skies in New York City, to again hear a reading of the names of all who died that day."That day we felt isolated, but not for long and not from each other,"New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said as the first ceremony began."Six years have passed, and our place is still by your side." Similar, solemn ceremonies took place in Shanksville, Pa., and in Washington, where President George W. Bush paused for a moment of silence outside the White House and Gen. Peter Pace spoke beside the Pentagon wall where one of the hijacked planes broke through.Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the victims' families that their loved ones will always be remembered. "I do not know the proper words to tell you what's in my heart, what is in our hearts, what your fellow citizens are thinking today. We certainly hope that somehow these observances will help lessen your pain," he said.Smaller memorials took place around the country, including a gathering at Jacksonville's fire station No. 1, where mourners stood silently in a tribute to their fallen brothers."It's a sad day for us here, even though it didn't happen here," JFRD Capt. Andy Reagor said."Those are our brothers and sisters that died."The terror attacks of Sept. 11 are etched in the mind of one retired firefighter Harry Beckham."I feel for all the firefighters who lost their lives and also for the families,"Beckham told Channel 4's Ashley Townsend."If you're a firefighter any length of time, naturally, everybody gets into a dangerous situation. But I've been lucky."Flags at all Jacksonville fire stations flew at half-staff on Tuesday, honoring the firefighters, police officers and the innocent men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice."All I can remember is the towers falling. I never would have thought the towers would have fallen," Reagor said. "I'll never forget that-the towers falling. I was at home watching TV and I'll never forget it."In St. Augustine, a crowd gathered in the Plaza de la Constitucion to remember the victims of Sept. 11 paused at as church bells rang out at 8:46 a.m.-the time the first plane it the World Trade Center.In Tallahassee, a bagpiper played "Amazing Grace" as Gov. Charlie Crist and other state leaders gathered for the sixth anniversary of the attacks.A moment of silence was observed at the state Capitol at 8:46 a.m.-the moment the first plane struck the north tower of the World Trade Center. Crist read a prayer asking for comfort and healing to those who have suffered as a result of the attacks.First responders also presented a flag to the governor depicting the twin towers which read, "Never Forget."http://www.news4jax.com/news/14092350/detail.html?treets=jax&tid=2657206147813&tml=jax_8pm&tmi=jax_8pm_1_07000309112007&ts=H
As in the days of Noah...
