FOX 21 News, KQDS-DT

DULUTH - The Honor Guard and members of the Duluth Police Department marched forward Tuesday as the community gathered around to reflect on the 11-year anniversary of the September 11th attacks.

"The reality of what was going on really bothered me, so I'm here today to just remember the people that gave their lives," Dan Smestad from Duluth said.

The act of remembering was the main point of the assembly that took place near Duluth's own Lady Liberty.

"We must encourage our children and grandchildren to be here and remember this in their schools, in their communities, in their families," Durbin Keeney from the Northland Veterans Service Committee said.

"It's one of the biggest days of our lives," Fern Brudick from Duluth said. "And you do need to remember."

A rifle salute created a stark reminder of the lives lost during and after the horrific incident that some fear is losing attention.

"It's just like the Vietnam War," Smestad said. "At one time it was in the news every day and now there's not even a paragraph in the newspapers or on TV about it anymore."

For most, the visions and emotions were hard to live through.

"Just the innocence of the people who died for no reason at all," Smestad said. "Just because some people, some individuals didn't agree with us."

But the images, the reality, and the strength of the country's bravest citizens continue to live on as a reason to stand united.

No matter where we are, how big a group we are," Brudick said. "We're all Americans; we're all in this together."