The US marks 22 years since 9/11 with tributes and tears, from ground zero to Alaska

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Bells tolled at ground zero and solemn tributes unfolded around the country as Americans looked back on the horror and legacy of 9/11. (Sept. 11) (AP Video production by Luke Sheridan)

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Austin, Milley remember 9/11 Pentagon victims

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Victims of Flight 93 remembered in Shanksville

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Hagi Abucar puts flowers on the 9/11 Memorial during the commemoration ceremony on the 22nd anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

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Sam Pulia places flags before the commemoration ceremony of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, in New York. Americans are looking back on the horror and legacy of 9/11, gathering Monday at memorials, firehouses, city halls and elsewhere to observe the 22nd anniversary of the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

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Family members gather around the 9/11 Memorial during the commemoration ceremony on the 22nd anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

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FILE — First responders work at ground zero after the Sept.11 attacks, Sept. 12, 2001, in New York. Americans are looking back on the horror and legacy of 9/11, gathering Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, at memorials, firehouses, city halls and elsewhere to observe the 22nd anniversary of the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil. (AP Photo/Suzanne Plunkett, File)

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FILE — An American flag is unfurled at the Pentagon, in Washington, Sept. 11, 2021, at sunrise on the morning of the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks. Americans are looking back on the horror and legacy of 9/11, gathering Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, at memorials, firehouses, city halls and elsewhere to observe the 22nd anniversary of the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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Sheryl Stoll of Columbus, Ohio, touches the name of her first cousin Captain Jason Dahl at the Wall of Names during a remembrance ceremony on the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attack, at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pa., Monday, Sept.11, 2023. (John Rucosky/Tribune-Democrat via AP)

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Diane Massaroli holds a picture of her late husband, Michael Massaroli, before the commemoration ceremony of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, in New York. Americans are looking back on the horror and legacy of 9/11, gathering Monday at memorials, firehouses, city halls and elsewhere to observe the 22nd anniversary of the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil.(AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

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People pray before the commemoration ceremony on the 22nd anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

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Members of the George Mason University women’s lacrosse team on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, in Washington, walk past American flags flying at half-staff surrounding the Washington Monument that were lowered to honor and remember the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attack. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

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People carrying a wreath arrive at the commemoration ceremony of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, in New York. Americans are looking back on the horror and legacy of 9/11, gathering Monday at memorials, firehouses, city halls and elsewhere to observe the 22nd anniversary of the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

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Family members of victims attend the commemoration ceremony on the 22nd anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

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American flags are placed outside the U.S. Capitol on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, in Washington, on the 22nd anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attack. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

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The shadows of President of Flight 93 Familes, Gorden Felt, left, and park ranger Betsy Keene are shown at the Wall of Names at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pa., Monday, Sept.11, 2023. Americans are looking back on the horror and legacy of 9/11, gathering Monday at memorials, firehouses, city halls and elsewhere to observe the 22nd anniversary of the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil. (John Rucosky/Tribune-Democrat via AP)

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A person puts photos of fallen firefighters on the 9/11 Memorial during the commemoration ceremony on the 22nd anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

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People walk past American flags flying at half-staff surrounding the Washington Monument on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, in Washington, to honor and remember the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attack. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

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New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Vice President Kamala Harris and New York City Mayor Eric Adams attend the commemoration ceremony on the 22nd anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

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Family members put hands on the 9/11 Memorial during the commemoration ceremony on the 22nd anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

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Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani attends the commemoration ceremony on the 22nd anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

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With the U.S. Capitol in the background, a person walks past American flags flying at half-staff surrounding the Washington Monument on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, in Washington, to honor and remember the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attack. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

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A man sits on a bicycle near American flags flying at half-staff surrounding the Washington Monument on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, in Washington, that were lowered to honor and remember the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attack. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

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Mark Colker, right, dressed out to see his favorite firefighters alongside his father, Steven Cocker, left, who works in the music department at the Cathedral of Christ the King as they both watched Atlanta firefighters post an American flags between two ladder trucks. Atlanta police and firefighters were in attendance on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023 in Atlanta. The annual Mass honors public safety officials and first responders. City of Atlanta Mayor, Andre Dickens, along with police, fire officials and honor guards participated in the solemn Mass led by Rector, Monsignor Francis G. McNamee. Wreaths were posted in front of the of the church, honoring those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. (John Spink/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

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Park superintendent Stephen Clark speaks during a remembrance ceremony on the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attack, at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pa., Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. (John Rucosky/Tribune-Democrat via AP)

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Firefighters salute during a moment of silence outside the commemoration ceremony on the 22nd anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

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Family members put flowers on the 9/11 Memorial during the commemoration ceremony on the 22nd anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

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Marci Nacke of Baltimore, Md., sister-in-law of Captain Louis Nacke, places a flower at the Wall of Names during a remembrance ceremony on the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attack, at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pa., Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. (John Rucosky/Tribune-Democrat via AP)

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The Lewiston Fire and Police Departments honor guard starts the ceremony on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023 at the Lewiston Fire Department ceremony to remember the lives lost on September 11, 2001. (Andree Kehn/Sun Journal via AP)

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San Francisco Firefighters listen as the names of the firefighters and emergency responders who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001, are read at a fire station in San Francisco, Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. Americans are looking back on the horror and legacy of 9/11, gathering Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, at memorials, firehouses, city halls and elsewhere to observe the 22nd anniversary of the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

By JENNIFER PELTZ and KAREN MATTHEWS

NEW YORK (AP) — Americans looked back Monday on 9/11 with moments of silence, tearful words and appeals to teach younger generations about the terror attacks 22 years ago.

“For those of us who lost people on that day, that day is still happening. Everybody else moves on. And you find a way to go forward, but that day is always happening for you,” Edward Edelman said as he arrived at New York’s World Trade Center to honor his slain brother-in-law, Daniel McGinley.

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President Joe Biden, speaking at a military base in Anchorage, Alaska, urged Americans to rally around protecting democracy. His visit, en route to Washington from a trip to India and Vietnam, is a reminder that the impact of 9/11 was felt in every corner of the nation, however remote.

“We know that on this day, every American’s heart was wounded,” Biden said. “Yet every big city, small town, suburb, rural town, tribal community — American hands went up, ready to help where they could.”

Nearly 3,000 people were killed when hijacked planes crashed into the trade center, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field, in an attack that reshaped American foreign policy and domestic fears.

On that day, “we were one country, one nation, one people, just like it should be,” Eddie Ferguson, the fire-rescue chief in Virginia’s Goochland County, said by phone before the anniversary.

The predominantly rural county of 25,000 people has a Sept. 11 memorial and holds two anniversary commemorations, one focused on first responders and another honoring all the victims.

At ground zero, Vice President Kamala Harris joined other dignitaries at the ceremony on the National Sept. 11 Memorial plaza. Instead of remarks from political figures, the event features victims reading the names of the dead and delivering brief personal messages.

Some included patriotic declarations about American values and thanked first responders and the military. One lauded the Navy SEALs who killed al-Qaida leader and 9/11 plotter Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in 2011. Another appealed for peace and justice. One acknowledged the many lives lost in the post-9/11 “War on Terror.” And many shared reflections on missing loved ones.

“Though we never met, I am honored to carry your name and legacy with me,” said Manuel João DaMota Jr., who was born after his father and namesake died.

To Gabrielle Gabrielli, reading names “is the biggest honor of my life.” She lost her uncle and godfather, Richard Gabrielle.

“We have to keep the memory of everybody who died alive. This is their legacy,” Gabrielli said, heading into the ceremony.

Biden, a Democrat, became the first president to commemorate Sept. 11 in the western U.S. He and his predecessors have gone to one or another of the attack sites in most years, though Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Barack Obama each marked the anniversary on the White House lawn at times, and Obama also visited Fort Meade in Maryland.

Warning of a rise in extremism and political violence, Biden told service members and their families that that “every generation has to fight” to preserve U.S. democracy.

“That’s why the terrorists targeted us in the first place – our freedom, our openness, our institutions. They failed. But we must remain vigilant,” he said.

First lady Jill Biden laid a wreath at the 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon, where a giant American flag hung over the side of the building. Earlier, bells tolled, and musicians played taps at 9:37 a.m., the time when one of the hijacked jets hit the military headquarters.

“As the years go by, it may feel that the world is moving on or even forgetting what happened here on Sept. 11, 2001,” but the Defense Department will always remember, Secretary Lloyd Austin said. He deployed to Iraq in the war that followed the attack.

Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, laid a wreath at the Flight 93 National Memorial near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where another plane crashed after passengers tried to storm the cockpit. Earlier Monday at the memorial, a rabbi from Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue, where a gunman killed 11 worshippers in 2018, called for ensuring that younger people know about 9/11.

“With memory comes responsibility, the determination to share our stories with this next generation, so that through them, our loved ones continue to live,” Rabbi Jeffrey Myers said. The memorial is offering a new educational video, virtual tour and other materials for classroom use.

Many Americans did volunteer work on what Congress has designated both Patriot Day and a National Day of Service and Remembrance. Others gathered for anniversary events at memorials, firehouses, city halls, campuses and elsewhere.

In Iowa, a march set off at 9:11 a.m. Monday from suburban Waukee to the state Capitol in Des Moines. In Columbus, Indiana, observances include a remembrance message sent to police, fire and EMS radios. New Jersey’s Monmouth County, which was home to some 9/11 victims, this year made Sept. 11 a holiday for county employees so they could attend commemorations.

Pepperdine University’s campus in Malibu, California, displayed one American flag for each victim, plus the flags of every other country that lost a citizen on 9/11. Reflecting the tragedy’s scope, U.N. General Assembly President Dennis Francis exhorted world nations Monday to counter extremism, build tolerance, “join hands and say never again.”

Fenton, Missouri, is more than 650 miles (1,050 kilometers) from the attack sites. But the St. Louis suburb, population 4,000, holds an anniversary ceremony at a memorial that includes steel from the World Trade Center’s fallen twin towers and a plaque honoring Jessica Leigh Sachs, a 9/11 victim with relatives in town.

“We’re just a little bitty community,” Mayor Joe Maurath said ahead of the anniversary, but “it’s important for us to continue to remember these events. Not just 9/11, but all of the events that make us free.”

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Associated Press journalists Julie Walker and Deepti Hajela in New York; Seung Min Kim in Anchorage, Alaska; Tara Copp in Washington and Michael Rubinkam in northeastern Pennsylvania contributed to this report.