“We claim this ground in remembrance of the events of September 11, 2001. To honor the 184 people whose lives were lost, their families, and all who sacrifice that we may live in freedom. We will never forget.” — Pentagon 9-11 Memorial inscription

It was an unimaginable act of terrorism that took the lives of 13 Alexandria residents on Sept. 11, 2001. On Wednesday, Sept. 11, the City of Alexandria held a ceremony to mark the 18th anniversary of what remains the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history. 2,977 people died in the attacks in New York, Pennsylvania and Arlington.

Alexandria firefighters were part of the emergency rescue and recovery efforts at the Pentagon and the hour-long event in Market Square paid tribute to those killed, injured or otherwise affected by the attacks.

Mayor Justin Wilson, acting Fire Chief Corey Smedley, Police Chief Michael Brown and Sheriff Dana Lawhorne participated in the ceremony that honored those who gave their lives to save others and featured the "Return to Quarters" bell-ringing tribute.

Remembering Alexandria’s victims of 9-11

Spec. Craig S. Amundson, 28, was assigned to the Army's Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel as a graphic artist and was at work at the Pentagon the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Award.

Eddie A. Dillard, 54, was a passenger aboard American Airlines flight 77. He left behind a wife of 15 years, Rosemary, and one son, Edrick L. Dillard.

Captain Robert Dolan, 43, was working on the first floor of the Pentagon as head of the U.S. Navy’s Strategy and Concepts Branch when American Airlines Flight 77 struck the building. He was a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and commander of the USS John Hancock.

Diane M. Hale-McKinzy, 38, was a civilian employee for the U.S. Army at the Pentagon. Born in Lithonia, Ga., she served in the Army for four years before beginning a career in civil service.

Bryan C. Jack, 48, was on American Airlines Flight 77 when the plane struck the Pentagon, where he worked as the head of the Defense Department’s programming and fiscal economics division. Jack and his longtime companion, artist Barbara Rachko, were married on June 16, 2001, just 87 days before his death.

Steven D. “Jake” Jacoby, 43, was the chief operating officer of Metrocall and a passenger on American Airlines Flight 77. A community leader, Jacoby sat on the board of Men Against Breast Cancer and was actively involved with the Camp Fantastic Special Love charity golf tournament as well as Catholic Charities.

Terence Michael Lynch, 49, was one of three consultants from Booz, Allen and Hamilton who perished during a meeting at the Pentagon. On the day of his death, he was attending a meeting to extend survivor benefits to military families.

Major Clifford L. Patterson Jr., 33, was a native of Washington, D.C. and graduate of St. John’s College High School. In 1991 he graduated from Howard University as a Distinguished Military Graduate. He was working at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001.

Cmdr. Robert Allan Schlegel, 38, followed his father and brothers in the Navy. Prior to being posted to the Pentagon, he was executive officer of the USS Arthur W. Radford, a 9,000-ton destroyer.

Army Lt. Col. Gary F. Smith (Ret.), 55, was at a meeting at the Pentagon when American Airlines Flight 77 struck. A resident of Waynewood, Smith coached his daughter’s soccer teams, kept time for the West Potomac High School track team and was a fixture at high school football games on Friday nights.

Norma Lang Steuerle, 54, was active in the Old Town community as a clinical psychologist and through Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. She was aboard American Airlines Flight 77 en route to visit a daughter in Japan and her husband Eugene, who was teaching a seminar in Singapore.

Sandra Carol Taylor, 50, worked as a civilian for the U.S. Army for 30 years and at the Pentagon for almost 10. She was a volunteer at the Hospice of Northern Virginia and at the time of her death was engaged to Timothy Dudgeon.

Meta L. Waller, 60, was a 12-year civilian employee of the U.S. Army at the Pentagon and was at her desk when the hijacked airliner struck the building. Named after her grandmother, the African American sculptor Meta Warrick Fuller, Waller received a master’s degree in government from Harvard University and was active in civil rights affairs.