With eyes and cheeks full of tears, 67-year-old Korean woman Pilsoon Kang told Xinhua that her only son Joonkoo Kang was killed in the terror attack.

"My son was only 34 when he was killed," she said, trying to stop the sobbing. "He left behind him a 4-year-old son and a 2-year-old daughter."

Richard Sadowy, holding a picture of his son-in-law, police officer Paul Talty who was killed in the 9/11 attacks, attends a commemoration rally at the site of destroyed World Trade Center in Manhattan, New York, the United States, September 11, 2008. New Yorkers on Thursday morning gathered to commemorate the 9/11 attacks that killed more than 2,700 people seven years ago. [Hou Jun/Xinhua]

"My happy family and life have been destroyed completely after my son died," she said.

Carrying a number of photos of his late wife in his wallet, Nick Chiachiaro blamed the wrong foreign policies of the United States for the happening of the 9/11 on the US soil.

He said the United States should rethink of its foreign policies, urging the US troops to withdraw from other countries so as to avoid further tragedies like the 9/11.

"Even though he is gone, he is still with us and helps us to be better people," said Aiden Salamone, son of victim John Patrick Salamon, at the ceremony. "For our dad, we try to be a little kinder and help people in need."

The picture of 9/11 attacks victim, New York fire fighter Philip Petti is seen during a commemoration rally at the site of destroyed World Trade Center in Manhattan, New York, the United States, September 11, 2008. New Yorkers on Thursday morning gathered to commemorate the 9/11 attacks that killed more than 2,700 people seven years ago. [Hou Jun/Xinhua]

According to the organizers, the emphasis on the seventh anniversary has shifted to educating new generations about terrorist threats and the way families of victims survive the loss of loved ones.

The 9/11 attacks killed more than 2,700 people in New York, including 300 firefighters and police trapped after rushing into the towers to save the thousands of people working inside. The trauma has lingered with thousands of New Yorkers who lost friends or relatives or who continued to suffer mentally or physically.

(Xinhua News Agency September 12, 2008)