Across the nation, and here at home in Austintown remembrance ceremonies are marking 21 years since terrorists attacked America.

 

In New York City there was a moment of silence to commemorate the moment when the first plane struck the north tower of the World Trade Center.

 

At 8:46 am Al-Qaeda terrorists slammed that jumbo jet into the Twin Towers setting the attacks into motion.

 

Planes also crashed into the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania killing nearly three thousand people.

 

Also at Ground Zero the somber tradition of reading the names of the victims took place.

 

In Austintown there was prayer and songs.

 

Members of the Austintown Fitch Concert Choir sang songs.

 

The people who lost their lives and the heroes trying to save them who also died were remembered by a grateful community and nation.

 

Around 3,000 people died including firefighters, police and emergency medical technicians.

 

"When the first tower went down we knew how many people who had lost their lives and we knew all the firefighters and safety service people that had lost their lives at that point as well," Fire Chief Andrew Frost said.

 

"They didn't hesitate at all to go in and do their job.  They took an oath and upheld that oath, even it if cost them their lives," Police Chief Robert Gavalier added.

 

Family and friends of Becky Koborie  from Sharon miss sweet nature, her musical talents playing the piano and her beautiful voice.

 

"She had a lovely voice, she made CD's and published them. She sang in venues too, and she worked for an insurance company in the World Trade Center," Roseann Toth said.

 

Military families and most people remember where they were September 11TH.

 

"I was actually a military spouse. We were in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. I didn't wake up until after the first plane hit, but it was life altering for us. I remember the world coming together. I would just like to keep reminding everybody where your heart and mind was at that time because we were all in harmony, even though it was a tragedy, it brought us all togethter," Michelle Pike emphasized.

 

For others not yet born keeping history alive is important.

 

"Seeing the buildings fall was bad, but hearing the calls and peple crying, telling their loved ones that they probably were going to die, it was really made real," Charles Pike said.

 

Almost three thousand more have died from contaminants at ground zero as they worked trying to beat the clock and find survivors, prior to the mission being one of recovering what they could of people.

 

Over 200,000 US military and allied forces died in the global war on terrorism. That number does not include the numbers who were wounded, suffered from Traumatic Brain Injuries or came home with visions of the horrors of war in their minds and committed suicide.

 

One speaker questioned their deaths and the way America pulled out of Afghanistan which has left many who served questioning why we were there and how our country could leave so many people who served along side allied forces behind to face potentially death or horrible fates at the hands of the Taliban.

 

Veterans want to see our country united and say the lesson learned is that freedom can be attacked at any time. 

 

"The lesson you learn from 9/11 us never take anything for granted. As safe and secure as you may be there is always someone who wants to do you harm, whether it'sin your own community or in our country. We should remember that. American needs to come together.  We need to come together and work as one country not a divided country," Marine Corps veteran Ken Jacubec said.