Watch live: NYC pauses to remember 9/11 victims, 23 years after the terrorist attacks that changed the country

NEW YORK — Today marks the 23rd anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, which changed New York City and the nation forever.

Nearly 3,000 people were killed when al-Qaeda hijackers flew four passenger planes into the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and a field in southwestern Pennsylvania.

On this day every morning for 23 years, Families who have lost loved ones to take the ceremonial march at the worst terrorist attack on American soil, to observe the six minutes of silence, to hear the reading of the names and fulfill a sacred promise never to forget.

As the years go by, more and more names of children and young adults born after the attacks are read – as the older generation transfers the heavy responsibility to convey the memory of this day to a new generation.

Watch the 9/11 Memorial & Museum commemoration ceremony live streamed on CBS News New York in the video player above.

9/11 Moments of Silence

Wednesday's ceremony is dedicated to the 2,983 victims who died in the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in 2001, aboard Flight 93 and in the 1993 WTC bombing.

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum opened to family members at 8:00 a.m. before the memorial service began at 8:46 a.m.

A municipal minute of silence took place on 8:46 am to commemorate the moment when the hijacked Flight 11 hit the North Tower. A second minute of silence was held at 9:03 am to mark the moment when hijacked Flight 175 hit the South Tower.

Another minute of silence followed on 9:37 amand marks the moment when the hijacked Flight 77 hit the Pentagon.

A minute of silence was held at 9:59 am to mark the moment of the collapse of the South Tower, 10:03 am about the crash of hijacked Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and then in 10:28 am to mark the moment of the collapse of the North Tower.

The ceremony usually ends around 12:30 p.m.

US government leaders vow to “never forget”

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are present at the ceremony in Lower Manhattan, along with former President Donald Trump and Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance.

Also seen in the crowd are New York City leaders, including Senator Chuck Schumer, Governor Kathy Hochul and former mayors Bill de Blasio, Michael Bloomberg and Rudy Giuliani, as well as New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.

Both Biden and Harris had previously released statements repeating the call to “never forget.”

“Never forget each of the 2,977 precious lives stolen when terrorists attacked our country,” Biden wrote. “Never forget their families, who still carry the grief of that sweltering September morning. Never forget the heroic citizens and survivors who rushed to the aid of their fellow Americans. And never forget that we persevered when we faced evil – and an enemy that sought to tear us apart.”

“Today is a day of solemn remembrance, as we mourn the souls we lost in a heinous terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. We stand in solidarity with their families and loved ones. We also honor the extraordinary heroism shown by ordinary Americans on that fateful day in helping their fellow Americans. We will never forget it,” Harris said in her statement.

The White House says the president and vice president will Also visit the 9/11 sites in Shanksville, Pennsylvania and the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia.

Road closures due to the 9/11 ceremony

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is located in the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan.

Motorists should expect the following road closures in the area:

• Areas bounded by Barclay Street to the north, Rector Street to the south, Broadway to the east, and West Street to the west (all inclusive)
• Liberty Street between West Street and South End Avenue
• Albany Street between West Street and South End Avenue
• West Thames Street between West Street and South End Avenue
• South End Avenue between Liberty Street and West Thames Street
• Battery Place between West Thames Street and 3rd Place
• 3rd place between Battery Place and Little West Street
• Little West Street between 3rd Place and Battery Place

This takes place at the same time as the United Nations General Assembly, which also to road closures and delays on Manhattan's East Side.