Tomorrow, regular citizens will stand shoulder to shoulder with military, clergy, police and emergency responders at 9/11 ceremonies across the nation to honor the victims of that infamous day in U.S. history.

The images of horrifying events that day are seared in the memories of eyewitnesses. Last week, a New York City man gave me his personal story. He was playing with his young child when he heard the first television report that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. Rushing outside, he saw the smoke pouring from a gaping hole in the North Tower, minutes after being hit by American Airlines Flight 11 at 8:45 a.m.He was still focused on the tower 20 minutes later when he heard a low-flying plane and watched in horror as Flight 175 hit the South Tower. He told me that sight and sound will haunt him forever.We learned in following accounts that Flight 175 was flying over the Lehigh Valley before terrorists forced the plane to turn toward New York City. It was a sobering revelation of how close we were to the targeted areas.Western Pennsylvania had a more direct impact on events that morning when Flight 93 crashed near Shanksville in Somerset County. A group of Americans rushed the terrorists to try and take control of the plane, forcing it to crash into a field. That was the one plane that never reached its intended target since the crash site is about 20 minutes from Washington in air time.Along with the larger observances tomorrow in Shanksville, New York and at the Pentagon, there will be numerous remembrance ceremonies across the nation. Although Eastlake, Ohio, is about 500 miles from New York City, the community typifies the American spirit.Eastlake officials had a memorial constructed behind their city hall to honor those who fell on 9/11, ensuring that future generations never forget. The memorial includes artifacts, including pieces of steel from twin towers, granite from the Pentagon, soil and earth from Shanksville. About 1,400 other U.S. communities have received relics from the 9/11 crash sites that now anchor their own memorials.These are further reminders that America must remain ever vigilant in a dangerous, uncertain and often violent world.By Jim Zbickeditor@tnonline.com