The sun shone out of a cloudless, blue sky - just as it did on that fateful September morning four years ago - as the families and colleagues of those who died then gathered on the bare rock of Ground Zero.
The bereaved mingled with the politicians - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, New York Senator Hillary Clinton and the former mayor of the city, Rudy Giuliani, were in attendance - but this day belonged to the relatives.
A children's choir sang the Star Spangled Banner at the beginning of the ceremony to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the attacks.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg introduced a moment's silence at 0846, marking the precise time when the first plane hit the North tower of the World Trade Center.
Then the brothers and sisters of those who died began to take turns reading out the names of the 2,749 who perished. Music played quietly in the background as the siblings paid tribute to those they had lost.
Emotional atmosphere
Some held up large photographs, others blew kisses into the sky, many talked about how they hoped to be reunited one day.
The sacrifice of the fire services and the emergency workers was referred to repeatedly.
The sister of firefighter, Jeffrey James Olsen, said: "To the world you are a hero." Fireman Scott Kopytko's sister declared: "I'm so proud of what you've done, I love you."
At 0903, when the South Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed four years ago, an already sombre atmosphere became more emotional as a silver bell was struck symbolising a moment's silence.
Family members hugged one another and wept, others looked up into the sky where once the Twin Towers stood.
Then the siblings resumed their readings, recalling their beautiful, amazing brothers and sisters who had so much still to do when their time was cut cruelly short.
'Protect the legacy'
"I think of you every day," was a recurring refrain. Most relatives steered clear of any controversy, but a few spoke of their continuing battle to find a lasting memorial for their loved ones at the World Trade Center site.
"We will protect the legacy and the memory," pledged one brother.
A group of family members are upset by plans to site a centre dedicated to the concept of freedom at Ground Zero - this they feel could be political and detract from the memory of the dead.
"Don't worry Jimmy, we're going to take back the memorial," said a soldier as he read out his brother's name. One woman held up a photograph of her dead brother, then called on President George W Bush to do the right thing and bring the US troops home from Iraq.
As the roll call of names continued, two pools of water representing the Twin Towers began to fill up with flowers and even photographs of the dead. People scribbled messages on the edge of the pool.
Tears trickled out from behind the sunglasses of a woman dressed in black. A young child played in the dust of Ground Zero as New York remembered its victims.
Andrew Zucker's sister summed up the mood of those gathered. "Andrew, may your memory be a blessing."
Family members I spoke to before the ceremony felt the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina keenly - a natural disaster that caused chaos on a par with 9/11, once more making Americans feel unsafe in their own country.
But Hurricane Katrina has not overshadowed the events of four years ago - 9/11 will always be the day indelibly etched on to the memory of New Yorkers, when a beautiful autumn morning turned into a nightmare.
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