SYRACUSE, NY — In communities across the country and here in Central New York, people pause to remember the terrorist attacks of September 11, 23 years later.

In Oswego, a silent procession and sunrise memorial ceremony took place Wednesday morning, with people walking through the streets of the port city with American flags. Officials stood at attention to honor the dead as emergency responders paraded through the streets. Oswego Mayor Robert Corradino addressed the crowd.

“This day is forever etched in our hearts and minds. A day when the world changed in an instant.”

It was the day that changed the course of history 23 years ago. From Oswego to Syracuse, there were moments to pause and reflect. At Firefighter’s Memorial Park, people recognized the day we will never forget. People stood silently for 17 minutes to remember the tragedy of 9/11. “This is important to remember and to keep in mind… Must not be forgotten. Must never be forgotten,” said Lenny Nolan, who was in attendance.

Firefighters, police officers and community members stood at attention and paid tribute to those who died. Nolan lost his high school girlfriend Vanessa Lang Langer on Sept. 11. The 29-year-old from Clay was pregnant and in the Twin Towers when she was killed. “We never forget and always remember the sacrifices that were made. And how we came together,” he said.

Tully High School student Amy Dziok was born six years after the attacks. She came with her class to pay their respects. “I feel like it’s hard for people my age to fully comprehend this situation because we weren’t alive yet,” she said.

More than two decades after the attacks, people who lived through 9/11 are still suffering from the grief of that day. “We have firefighters, police officers and paramedics ready to face the danger just as we did 23 years ago,” said Syracuse Fire Chief Michael Monds.

Monds hopes the community will pause to reflect on the lives lost and remember how we came together as a country in the aftermath. “It gives us a chance to really reflect on how we treated each other the day after on September 12th, how we loved strangers, how we were united,” he said. “Let’s remember that with each day that passes, we continue to love each other.”