People gather along Broadway during moments of silence for the eighth anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center, in New York September 11, 2009 REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

NEW YORK - Mourners of victims of the September 11 attacks at the World Trade Center honored them in New York on Friday.

They observed two moments of silence to mark the times when United flight 175 and American Airlines flight 11 hit the south and north tower respectively.There were a total of 2,752 people who died as a result of the worst attack in United States history. The ceremony began at 8:40 a.m.

An official list of the names of all victims was read by family members over several hours. The reading was accompanied by flute and cello music.

On hand was Vice President Joe Biden, who also laid flowers at a memorial at the site of the World Trade Center attack.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg also appeared, praising the newly designated September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, by President Obama.

In Washington D.C., President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama also observed a moment of silence outside the White House in honor of the victims. They later appeared at the Pentagon which was also attacked on that day.

Mourners also gathered near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, a town about 80 miles east of Pittsburgh, where another plane crashed. Officials believed the plane had been headed for targets in Washington D.C.

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