Ceremonies across the state Wednesday marked the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. From Moorhead to Rochester to the state Capitol, Minnesotans remembered the victims of Sept. 11. Gov. Ventura said Minnesotans will never forget the people who died one year ago.

	Thomas Burnett, Sr., and his wife Beverly spoke at a ceremony in honor of their son, Thomas Jr., who died on United Flight 93 in Pennsylvania. A sculpture at Mall of America was dedicated to Burnett, a native of Bloomington. Listen to the Burnetts' remarks. •See images of ceremonies around Minnesota (MPR Photo/Dan Olson)

Four F-16 jets flew low overhead as several hundred people gathered at the state Capitol to commemorate those who died Sept. 11 of last year. At exactly 7:46 a.m. - when the first plane slammed into the north tower of the World Trade Center - bells at the Capitol and across the state rang for one minute.

An emotional Gov. Ventura told the crowd that while Sept. 11 is a sad day, it is also a day to celebrate freedom.

"We have much to be thankful for in this country, but without freedom, we have nothing. To the victims of Sept. 11, 2001, God be with you," Ventura said. His voice breaking, he concluded, "Be assured we will never forget."

The governor and First Lady Terry Ventura dedicated an elm tree on the Capitol grounds to the Setp. 11 victims. They also signed a proclamation calling Sept. 11 "Minnesota Remembers Day." Terry Ventura remembered the visit she and the governor made to Ground Zero.

"Today I will never get over the dedication of thousands of volunteers from all over our nation that worked so hard to clean up the ruins, the volunteers that helped families of the victims to start over, and those who worked to make all of us feel safe again in America," Terry Ventura said.

	Gov. Ventura and First Lady Terry Ventura spoke at a remembrance ceremony at the state Capitol grounds for victims of 9/11. Listen to their remarks. (MPR Photo/Laura McCallum)

Among the people gathered at the Capitol were the family members of Gary Koecheler, a St. Paul native, and one of at least four Minnesotans who died in the terrorist attacks. The 57-year-old worked at Euro Brokers in the south tower of the World Trade Center.

Koecheler's mother and two sisters say this is the first public event they've participated in. His sister Judy Schneider and his mother Monica Koecheler say the event should help them cope with their loss.

"It was very helpful to be with others who care. It was very nicely done," said Schneider. "I feel good that I was here ... it was very sad, but sadness is good sometimes," said Koecheler.

While the event at the Capitol honored all of the Sept. 11 victims, a ceremony in Moorhead focused on the first responders who died at Ground Zero. About 100 people gathered in Memorial Park, where a police officer read the names of the 70 New York City police officers who died, and two firefighters read the names of the 350 firefighters who died at the World Trade Center.

	St. Paul Police Department Commander Rick Anderson, at a morning ceremony to honor police and firefighters. (MPR Photo/Tom Scheck)

A police officer threw several red, white and blue wreaths into the Red River in honor of the Sept. 11 victims. Several Moorhead residents threw flowers into the river as well. Jim Rundlett-Doon, wearing an American flag t-shirt, says he's still upset about Sept. 11.

"I feel deeply about the lives that were lost, and I wanted to do something. I'm too old to be in the military, and at least that's something I can do from my heart for the families of those victims who were lost," Rundlett-Doon said.

Communities in Minnesota and throughout the country marked the times when the two twin towers collapsed. In St. Paul, emergency sirens sounded at exactly 9:05. Then again at 9:28 a.m.

At the St. Paul police and fire headquarters, dozens of officers lined up to remember their fellow officers who died in the attacks. St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly says Sept. 11 changed communities, and changed the definition of heroism.

"Heroes are still measured by numbers, but now it's not how many home runs or how many touchdowns you've scored," Kelly said. "The numbers that are important to us now are what squad are you in, what fire station do you serve out of, how many years have you been on the force."

	Two people attending the ceremony at Memorial Park in Moorhead, Minn. (MPR Photo/Bob Reha)

At the Mall of America, a ceremony honored Tom Burnett, Jr., a Bloomington native who died aboard United Airlines Flight 93 that crashed outside Pittsburgh. Investigators believe Burnett and other passengers stormed the cockpit and forced the hijackers to crash in a Pennsylvania farm field instead of what was believed to be the attackers' target - the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

A sculpture honoring Burnett will be on permanent display at the mall. Sculpted by Crookston native Patrick Wilson, the metal statue resembles a door with stars on it. Burnett's mother Bev says the sculpture is a symbol of courage and hope.

"When I look at this sculpture, I see the cockpit door of flight 93, and I am awed by the courage of my son and his cohorts," said Bev Burnett. "He knew they needed to break down that door, and they did. They did something incredibly important, something that saved hundreds, perhaps thousands of lives in Washington, D.C."

Tom Burnett, Sr. says the courage shown by his son and fellow passengers has inspired the nation.

"Here we are a year later - the pain and horror of last September 11 still reverberates in my heart and soul," Burnett said. "I miss him. And I do grieve for the thousands who lost their lives on that terrible day and their families. We must never forget this date. We must persist in the righteous pursuit of those who planned and executed this atrocity on American soil."

	St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly spoke to a gathering of his city's police and firefighters. Listen to his remarks. (MPR Photo/Tom Scheck)

In Hopkins, a few thousand people gathered to remember another Minnesota native killed in the attacks, 32-year-old Gordon Aamoth, Jr. Aamoth was working on the 104th floor of the south tower on Sept. 11.

A new football stadium at the Blake School Aamoth attended was named in his honor. His younger brother, Erik Aamoth, talked about the struggle his family has gone through over the past year. He thanked both friends and strangers for their support.

"Our personal tragedy was part of a much larger tragedy, and many of us are just now beginning to understand the impact of September 11 on our country and on our world," said Aamoth.

Minnesota religious leaders also spoke out on the anniversary. At a ceremony at St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center, representatives of Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islamic and Jewish organizations talked about the impact of Sept. 11 on the religious community. Hamdy El-Sawaf, executive director of the Islamic Center of Minnesota, says the attacks did not demolish the nation's faith.

"Our enemies thought that they brought us down to our knees. They are mistaken. They forget that we are still firm in our faith. Yes, they killed innocent, but they did not take away our soul," said El-Sawaf.

Religious leaders in other communities also urged Minnesotans to remember the people killed since Sept. 11 in the nation's war on terrorism.

At a peace vigil in St. Cloud, Bishop Thomas Gumbleton reminded about 100 people that thousands have been killed in Afghanistan since the bombing began last October.

"We also must remember the grieving, the pain, the suffering of our brothers and sisters in Afganistan," Gumbelton said.

The largest Minnesota observance of Sept. 11 took place in the Metrodome prior to the Twins-Tigers baseball game. People representing volunteers and emergency workers threw out ceremonial pitches, and fireworks were set off during the national anthem.

State Public Safety Commissioner Charlie Weaver told the crowd of more than 13,000 that ballplayers aren't the only American heroes. He says the first responders who filled the field are the true heroes.

"Take a look around you. With us here today are the men and women who in their own way help save the world, or at least our piece of it, every single day. These are Minnesota's heroes," said Weaver.

A red and white banner was unfurled in the Metrodome that says "Remember the Heroes." Twins officials say the banner will be on permanent display.

War on Terrorism