America and the rest of the world remember September 11th today with a series of commemoration ceremonies and a minute's silence at 1.46 p.m. Irish time when the first passenger jet hit the World Trade Centre in New York.
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"A day of tears," said US President George W Bush, "and a day of prayer, and a day of national resolve. It also needs to be a day in which we confirm the values which make us unique and great."
Later, honoring those killed at the Pentagon on September 11th, Mr Bush renewed his vow to win his "war on terrorism".
"Today we remember each life, we rededicate this proud symbol, and we renew our commitment to win the war that began here," he said in remarks to US military personnel. "There is a great deal left to do."
'The memories of a great tragedy linger here, and for all who knew loss here, life is not the same. The murder of innocents cannot be explained, only endured. And though they died in tragedy, they did not die in vain,' Mr Bush added.
It was a day of jitters and heightened security as well. Officials issued a "code orange" alert and warned terrorists might strike again.
The anniversary of the attacks that levelled the World Trade Centre, ruptured the Pentagon and brought death to a Pennsylvania field began far away from those places, in New Zealand, with the first line of the Requiem Mozart finished in his dying days.
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The Orlando Singers Chamber Choir at St Luke's Presbyterian Church in Rumuera started the Requiem. Choirs in 20 time zones around the world were to continue it, each of them beginning at 8.46 a.m. local time.
Early today, bagpipers and drummers assembled for a relay - from the five boroughs of New York, two at a time, to the World Trade Centre.
Hundreds of spectators applauded after bagpipers began their 19 mile journey to ground zero from Queens, holding up American flags and running alongside to take photographs as the procession made its way along a boulevard illuminated by the lights of emergency vehicles.
Marches from the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Staten Island were also to begin before dawn and end at Ground Zero around 7.30 am (12.30 p.m. Irish time).
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Breaking Newson September 11th, 2001
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Later there were moments of silence at the site at 8.46 a.m. (1.46 p.m. Irish time) and another will be observed at 10.28 a.m. (3.28 p.m. Irish time), when the second tower fell.
In New York and in Washington, there were to be readings of the rolls of the dead, 3,025 in all.
President Bush was attending ceremonies in Washington, Pennsylvania and New York, and will finish the day with a 9 p.m. (2 a.m. tomorrow Irish time) speech to the nation from Ellis Island, the New York harbour arrival point for generations of immigrants.
About 15 per cent of American businesses gave their employees red-white-and-blue ribbons or pins for the day, according to a survey by the Society for Human Resource Management.
About a third said they would observe a moment of silence. Just 4 per cent said they would give their workers the day off with pay.
The stock exchanges delayed their openings until after 11 a.m. (4 p.m. Irish time)
AP