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Portland firefighter Austin McKearney places American flags at Fort Allen Park prior to the start of Thursday’s 9/11 remembrance ceremony in Portland. First responders honored the lives lost during the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, with a wreath-laying ceremony and a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m., the time that the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City 24 years ago. (Daryn Slover/Staff Photographer)

Mainers paid tribute Thursday to the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks at ceremonies marking the 24th anniversary of America’s darkest day.

Members of the Lewiston Police and Fire Honor Guard march Thursday morning toward the Lewiston Firefighters Memorial in front of Central Fire Station during a 9/11 remembrance ceremony. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer)
Lt. Paul Halvorsen of the Portland Fire Department plays the bagpipes during Thursday’s 9/11 remembrance ceremony at Fort Allen Park in Portland. (Daryn Slover/Staff Photographer)

In Portland, first responders and members of the public gathered at Fort Allen Park on Thursday morning, where those assembled laid wreaths and held a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. — the same time that the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.

Carol Lynn Davis places flowers at the base of a 9/11 memorial following Thursday’s remembrance ceremony at Fort Allen Park in Portland. At left are Michael Davis and Victoria Randall, the mother of Stephen Ward, who died in the attacks and was working in the North Tower of the World Trade Center when the plane struck. (Daryn Slover/Staff Photographer)
Kathryn Ward, center, hugs family friend Carol Lynn Davis following Thursday’s 9/11 remembrance ceremony at Fort Allen Park in Portland. Ward’s brother, Stephen, was killed in the attacks in 2001. At right are Michael Davis and Victoria Randall, Stephen Ward’s mother. (Daryn Slover/Staff Photographer)
At 8:46 a.m. — the same time the first plane struck the World Trade Center 24 years ago — Portland firefighters honor a moment of silence during Thursday’s 9/11 remembrance ceremony at Fort Allen Park in Portland. (Daryn Slover/Staff Photographer)
Portland police Chief Mark Dubois, left, and Portland fire Chief Chad Johnston hold wreaths as they go over last-minute details prior to the start of Thursday’s 9/11 remembrance ceremony at Fort Allen Park in Portland. (Daryn Slover/Staff Photographer)

In Lewiston, city officials and first responders, including the Lewiston Police and Fire Honor Guard, held a memorial ceremony outside Central Fire Station, home to the Lewiston Firefighters Memorial. Speakers included Mayor Carl Sheline, City Administrator Bryan Kaenrath and the Rev. Willie Ponds, executive director of Hope Haven Gospel Mission.

Lewiston fire Lt. J.P. Adams rings a bell Thursday morning at Central Fire Station during a 9/11 remembrance ceremony. The “Striking the Four Fives” is a long-standing tradition that honors fallen firefighters. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer)
Lewiston City Administrator Bryan Kaenrath addresses a crowd gathered at Central Fire Station in Lewiston for a 9/11 remembrance ceremony Thursday. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer)
Members of the Lewiston Police and Fire Honor Guard listen to speeches during a 9/11 remembrance ceremony in Lewiston on Thursday. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer)
Members of the Lewiston Police and Fire Honor Guard place a wreath at the base of the Lewiston Firefighters Memorial on Thursday. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer)

Earlier this week, fourth- and fifth-grade students created a flag memorial for 9/11 victims near the entrance to Skowhegan Area High School.

Mary Pono puts the finishing touches on a 9/11 flag memorial Monday near the Skowhegan Area High School entrance. The memorial was set up by 13 classes of fourth- and fifth-graders from Margaret Chase Smith Community School in Skowhegan. (Anna Chadwick/Staff Photographer)

The flag memorial is normally set up each year outside the Margaret Chase Smith Community School in Skowhegan, but with construction work still in progress at the new elementary school, it was relocated to the high school this year.

Mary Pono walks by the 9/11 flag memorial outside of Skowhegan Area High School on Monday. Each year, Margaret Chase Smith School students set up the memorial in front of their school, but with construction still taking place there, the memorial was added at the high school this year. (Anna Chadwick/Staff Photographer)