From the red, white and blue lights on top of Buffalo City Hall to the enormous American flag hanging high above the Renaissance Bridge connecting the Twin Cities of Tonawanda and North Tonawanda, the stars and stripes dominated the scene on the 15th anniversary of 9/11.
The Salvation Army band played patriotic music as the fire and police departments from the Twin Cities remembered the hundreds of fire fighters and law enforcement personnel who died in New York City's Twin Towers as they collapsed after being hit by hijacked airliners.
"I made a promise to the people of the Tonawandas that we would not have a memorial service every year. We would have one every five years," said Bill Miles, who serves as assistant chaplain for the City of Tonawanda Fire Department. He was the master of ceremonies for Sunday's memorial.
"It's important to do it for the community, to come together and remember 9/11. It's our obligation to never forget."
Not far away in North Tonawanda's Gratwick Park, more than 3,000 flags stood, many of which were purchased in honor of somebody who had been lost.
"The Erie Niagara Sunrise Exchange Club and the Exchange Club of the Tonawandas partnered up to host this field," said the Exchange Club's Ron Sciandra. He said more than 1,000 flags were purchased and taken home after the event.
At Canalside, the atmosphere and approach were a little different as organizers held the Peace-Justice-Nonviolence Festival and Walk. According to Western New York Peace Center Executive Director Victoria Ross, the event looks to address all forms of violence.
"Our violence has begotten more violence and it continues to do so and if you look at the past 15 years it's very plain that what was a small huge tragedy on one day, we've magnified it immeasurably," Ross said.
"The clear answer is we need less violence."