New York City commemorates 14th anniversary of Septemper 11 terrorist attacks

The 9/11 families, survivors, first responders and others on Friday gathered at Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan of New York City for a ceremony to mark the 14th anniversary of Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that claimed lives of nearly 3,000 innocent people.

Flags were flown at half staff, while bells tolled at 8:46 a.m., the time the first plane struck the north tower of the twin-tower World Trade Center, and after a moment of silence, the families began to read the names of those who were killed in the 2001 and 1993 attacks on the World Trade Center.

There were more pauses, including one at 9:03 a.m., the time the second plane struck the south tower of the World Trade Center; another at 9:37 a.m., the time that Flight 77 struck the Pentagon in Virginia.

Relatives of the victims carried photos emblazoned with the names of their lost beloved ones throughout the moments of silence and somber reading of names.

As part of this year's commemoration in New York City, a sunrise ceremony was also organized Friday morning on Long Island in the vicinity. More than 1,000 people attended the Point Lookout event, which was held on the same beach where crowds spontaneously gathered on Sept. 11, 2001 and looked helplessly across the water as part of the Lower Manhattan skyline disappeared. An "inspiration mural" was also created, with the names of the victims and messages.

Vice President Joe Biden and New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo later on Friday were set to join more than 300 motorcycle riders participating in the Sept. 11 Memorial Motorcycle Ride at a lunch in New York City, according to the governor's press office.

According to the governor's press office, the ride was organized to pay tribute to the strength, courage, and heroism of the first responders who led recovery efforts during and following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.