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A group of Japanese firefighters and American servicemembers gathered Sept. 11, 2012, to honor the men and women who died trying to save others when the World Trade Center’s twin towers collapsed 11 years ago.

A group of Japanese firefighters and American servicemembers gathered Sept. 11, 2012, to honor the men and women who died trying to save others when the World Trade Center’s twin towers collapsed 11 years ago. (Nathan A. Bailey/Stars and Stripes)

A group of Japanese firefighters and American servicemembers gathered Sept. 11, 2012, to honor the men and women who died trying to save others when the World Trade Center’s twin towers collapsed 11 years ago.

A group of Japanese firefighters and American servicemembers gathered Sept. 11, 2012, to honor the men and women who died trying to save others when the World Trade Center’s twin towers collapsed 11 years ago. (Nathan A. Bailey/Stars and Stripes)

A firefighter from Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan poses after climbing 110 flights of stairs during a memorial stair climb at an on-base housing tower to honor the first responders of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack who lost their lives when the towers collapsed.

A firefighter from Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan poses after climbing 110 flights of stairs during a memorial stair climb at an on-base housing tower to honor the first responders of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack who lost their lives when the towers collapsed. (Nathan A. Bailey/Stars and Stripes)

President Barack Obama, flanked by Defense Defense Leon Panetta, left, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey, render respect to the flag at the Pentagon Memorial Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012, during a ceremony to mark the 11th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

President Barack Obama, flanked by Defense Defense Leon Panetta, left, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey, render respect to the flag at the Pentagon Memorial Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012, during a ceremony to mark the 11th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. (Carolyn Kaster/AP)

Ludwig Camacho, 8, left, and Annbelle Camacho, 5, of West Sacramento, view the Twin Towers site at the September 11 Memorial on Jefferson Blvd and South River Road in West Sacramento, California, September 10, 2012.

Ludwig Camacho, 8, left, and Annbelle Camacho, 5, of West Sacramento, view the Twin Towers site at the September 11 Memorial on Jefferson Blvd and South River Road in West Sacramento, California, September 10, 2012. (Jose Luis Villegas/Sacramento Bee/MCT)

David Keyes reads the stories of Idaho's fallen soldiers, which were posted on flagpoles at the Idaho Fallen Soldier memorial service at the Idaho Fallen Soldier Memorial in downtown Boise, Idaho, Tuesday, September 11 2012.

David Keyes reads the stories of Idaho's fallen soldiers, which were posted on flagpoles at the Idaho Fallen Soldier memorial service at the Idaho Fallen Soldier Memorial in downtown Boise, Idaho, Tuesday, September 11 2012. (Joe Jaszewski, Idaho Statesman/MCT)

Family members make pencil rubbings of the names of loved ones after the Idaho Fallen Soldier memorial service at the Idaho Fallen Soldier Memorial in downtown Boise, Idaho, Tuesday, September 11 2012.

Family members make pencil rubbings of the names of loved ones after the Idaho Fallen Soldier memorial service at the Idaho Fallen Soldier Memorial in downtown Boise, Idaho, Tuesday, September 11 2012. (Joe Jaszewski, Idaho Statesman/MCT)

High School band director Otis Carter III plays 'Taps' during a ceremony at Moss Point, Mississippi Central Fire Station on Tuesday, September 11, 2012, commemorating the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

High School band director Otis Carter III plays 'Taps' during a ceremony at Moss Point, Mississippi Central Fire Station on Tuesday, September 11, 2012, commemorating the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. (John Fitzhugh, Biloxi Sun Herald/MCT)

American flags surround a firefighter figure at the September 11 Memorial in West Sacramento, Calif., as the sun sets, September 10, 2012.

American flags surround a firefighter figure at the September 11 Memorial in West Sacramento, Calif., as the sun sets, September 10, 2012. (Jose Luis Villegas, Sacramento Bee/MCT)

Survivors from the Sept. 11 attacks react during President Barack Obama's speech as he commemorates the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks during a ceremony at the Pentagon, Tuesday, September 11, 2012, in Arlington, Virginia.

Survivors from the Sept. 11 attacks react during President Barack Obama's speech as he commemorates the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks during a ceremony at the Pentagon, Tuesday, September 11, 2012, in Arlington, Virginia. (Olivier Douliery, Abaca Press/MCT)

The Rev. David Greer says a prayer of unity during a ceremony at Moss Point, Mississippi, Central Fire Station on Tuesday, September 11, 2012, commemorating the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

The Rev. David Greer says a prayer of unity during a ceremony at Moss Point, Mississippi, Central Fire Station on Tuesday, September 11, 2012, commemorating the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. (John Fitzhugh/Biloxi Sun Herald/MCT)

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama make a stop at the section 60 at Arlington Cemetery to commemorate the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks during a ceremony at the Pentagon, Tuesday, September 11, 2012, in Arlington, Virginia.

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama make a stop at the section 60 at Arlington Cemetery to commemorate the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks during a ceremony at the Pentagon, Tuesday, September 11, 2012, in Arlington, Virginia. ( Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT)

Servicemembers remember the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States during a ceremony Sept. 11, 2012, at the Capodichino base of Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy. More than 200 people attended the ceremony, which featured band music, several invocations and a moment of silence for the victims.

Servicemembers remember the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States during a ceremony Sept. 11, 2012, at the Capodichino base of Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy. More than 200 people attended the ceremony, which featured band music, several invocations and a moment of silence for the victims. (Cristina Silva/Stars and Stripes)

Victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States receive salutes during a memorial service Sept. 11, 2012, at the Capodichino base of Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy. More than 200 people attended.

Victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States receive salutes during a memorial service Sept. 11, 2012, at the Capodichino base of Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy. More than 200 people attended. (Cristina Silva/Stars and Stripes)

It has been 11 years since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. As long ago as that seems, the day still evokes somber memories for multitudes around the world whether it be emergency personnel in Japan, servicemembers in Italy, or the throngs of people gathered in New York or in Pennsylvania or at the Pentagon.

With the start of the day in Asia, U.S. and Japanese firefighters at Naval Air Facility Atsugi climbed 110 flights of stairs to replicate what emergency responders in New York had to do in climbing the World Trade Center's twin towers.

In Naples, Italy, hundreds of servicemembers gathered for a memorial service where they pledged to remember the victims of the attack, in which "our nation changed forever."

At the Pentagon, President Barack Obama paid tribute to the nearly 3,000 victims of the attack and vowed to continue to pursue terrorists who threaten the United States "wherever they go, to make sure they have no place to hide.”

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