Relatives of those who died in the September 11th terror attacks gathered near Ground Zero today to remember the 2,749 people who were killed at the World Trade Center site six years ago.
As hundreds of people converged in Zuccotti Park, overlooking the construction site which was Ground Zero, many stood in small groups holding hands and carrying flowers.
Sheltered against the early morning rain by a sea of umbrellas, children stood with their families in the shadow of the Manhattan skyscrapers as New York and the world remembered those who were killed.
A large American flag covered seven storeys of one building which faced the site where thousands died in 2001. It was the first time the commemoration ceremony has been held on today - the same day as the attacks occurred in 2001.
The service was one of a series taking place across the US to remember the 2,973 people killed when terrorists hijacked aircraft and flew them into New York's World Trade Centre and the Pentagon.
Of those who died, 67 were British.
New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg told those who had gathered in the park: "Today marks the sixth anniversary of the day that tore across our history and our hearts.
"We come together again as New Yorkers and as Americans to share a cause that can't be measured and to remember the names of those who can't be replaced."
He said the list of names of those who died would be read by volunteers who helped in the rescue and recovery and whose thoughts were: "Those are my neighbours. Let me help."
He went on: "On that day we felt isolated, but not for long and not from each other." The mayor said New Yorkers were not sure of anything on the day of the attacks except that they had to be at the site.
"Six years have passed and our place is still by your side," he said. He added: "Our lives are connected by a thousand invisible threads."
The names of the World Trade Centre victims were being read by 236 of the rescue, recovery workers and volunteers who helped in the aftermath of the attacks. A flute solo played quietly in the background as the names were read in alphabetical order.
Rudy Giuliani, the mayor at the time of the attacks, told the crowd that September 11th united New Yorkers.
The appearance of Mr Giuliani was criticised by some after he was allowed to speak at the service, as he has done every year since the attacks, despite being a Republican presidential hopeful.
Democrat president hopeful Senator Hillary Clinton, who also attended today's ceremony, did not address the crowd.
"On this day six years ago, and the days that followed, in the midst of our great grief, we bore witness to the uncompromising strength and resilience of our people," Mr Giuliani said. "It was a day with no answers, but only an unending line of those who came forward to help one another."