The world remembers
Prayers, reflections and moments of silence were shared at the site where New York’s World Trade Center towers collapsed, on the field in Pennsylvania where United Airlines flight 93 crashed and at the reconstructed Pentagon in Virginia.
The names of the dead were read out; bells tolled as bereaved families looked on and the national memorial to the victims was unveiled in the form of two giant gushing pools on the footprint of the former towers.
At Ground Zero, President Barack Obama joined his predecessor, George W Bush, for a sombre service to show the world the nation remained united despite a decade of antagonism.
In the former president there was the man who 10 years ago eagerly went in search of revenge, embroiled his army in futile wars and failed to destroy the menace responsible for the attacks.
In the current president there was a man who forged his career opposing the wars his predecessor embarked on, yet looked on as the mission was completed earlier this year with the killing of Osama bin Laden.
Families filed to the event through heavy security set up to snuff out repeat attacks, which had been threatened in the days leading up to the anniversary.
At the ceremony, both presidents read reflections taken from the Bible and American history. Along with their wives, the men also listened as the names of those who died in New York were read aloud.
Later, Mr Obama travelled to the two other sites where the hijacked planes came down.
There was a gala concert in Washington.
The services in north east America resonated with similar reflections around the world.
In Dublin, a simple yet moving event was hosted by the US embassy at the RDS following a smaller event at the fire brigade training centre in Marino.
In the RDS, American ambassador Dan Rooney was joined by President Mary McAleese and Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
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