>>> TONIGHT, FRANCINE MAKES LANDFALL IN LOUISIANA. THE CONCERN FOR FLOODING IN DANGEROUS STORM SURGE. >>> MARKING 23 YEARS OF THE 9/11 ATTACKS. THE SOLEMN COMMEMORATIONS IN LOWER MANHATTAN AND ACROSS OUR AREA. GOOD EVENING, I AM KRISTINE JOHNSON. >> I AM MAURICE DUBOIS. TODAY WAS A DAY TO FULFILL A PROMISE TO NEVER FORGET. >> IT MARKED 23 YEARS SINCE THE SEPTEMBER 11th TERROR ATTACKS. TONIGHT, TWIN BEANS -- BEAMS OF LIGHT REMIND THE WORLD OF OUR COLLECTIVE HEARTBREAK AND RESILIENCE. >> MORE THAN TWO DECADES AFTER THE DESTRUCTION OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER SITE HOSTS A BEAUTIFUL MEMORIAL. >> Reporter: IT IS A TRADITION AT SUNSET ON 9/11. PAPERS AND DRUMS LEADER PARADE OUTSIDE THE FDNY TENT NOW SO THE FIRST RESPONDERS THE MILITARY MARCHING IN FORMATION TO HONOR THE FALLEN. A FEW YARDS AWAY THE CONSTANT RUSH OF WATER AT THE MEMORIAL POOL. IT IS LIKE A WHISPER OF THE GRIEF AS VISITORS THINK ABOUT THE NAMES ETCHED ON THESE PANELS. >> WE WANT TO COME HERE THIS TIME EVERY YEAR AND PAY OUR RESPECT. AT THE TIME OF REFLECTION AND WE DON'T EVER WANT TO FORGET. >> Reporter: EARLIER, THE FAMILIAR CONTOURS OF THE MEMORIAL CEREMONY PLAYED OUT LIKE A PAINFUL YET COMFORTING RITUAL WITH PAIRS OF READERS REFLECTING THE DIVERSE TAPESTRY OF NEW YORK, GIVING VOICE TO THE NAMES OF ALL THOSE WHO DIED ON THAT TUESDAY 23 YEARS AGO. >> 23 YEARS IS LIKE 23 SECONDS. >> THE PROMISE TO NEVER FORGET IS FULFILLED, AS IT MUST BE. >> OF I COME HERE AND I SPEAK HIS NAME OUT LOUD AND YOU HEAR HIS NAME, HE WILL NEVER, NEVER DISAPPEAR. >> MY MOTHER WAS A BEACON OF KINDNESS, WISDOM, ELEGANCE AND GRACE. >> ROBERT, MY LITTLE BROTHER. I KNOW WE WILL MEET AGAIN. UNTIL THEN, I LOVE YOU AND THINK OF YOU EVERY DAY. >> Reporter: PRESIDENTS, POLITICIANS AND PEOPLE WHO MAKE HEADLINES ATTEND, BUT THEY DO NOT SPEAK. THE FOCUS IS RIGHTLY ON THE FAMILY'S AND THE HEROES. >> FIREFIGHTER STEVE BELSON FROM ROCKAWAY BEACH, QUEENS. STEVE IS KNOWN AS MR. LETTER 24. HE WAS LAST HEARD FROM ON THE 24th FLOOR WHILE CLIMBING UP THE SOUTH TOWER. >> Reporter: IT IS A DAY WHEN PEOPLE WHO BEAR UNIQUE SORROW FIND COMFORT WITH OTHERS WHO UNDERSTAND THE PAIN. ♪ ♪ >> Reporter: INTO THE NIGHT, VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD JOINED NEW YORKERS HERE AT THE MEMORIAL, NO BETTER PLACE TO REMEMBER THAT DAY WE CAN NEVER FORGET. >>> CANDLELIGHT VIGIL TONIGHT AT THE EMPTY SKY MEMORIAL IN JERSEY CITY JUST ACROSS THE HUDSON FROM THE TRADE CENTER. THOSE IN ATTENDANCE WALKED HOLDING CANDLES THAT REFLECTED ON THE WALLS, ELIMINATING THE NAMES OF THOSE WHOSE LIVES WERE LOST. >> MAKE NO MISTAKE, TODAY IS NOT AN ANNIVERSARY. IT IS A STARK REMINDER OF WHAT WE ALL WITNESSED 23 YEARS AGO. >> ALSO THERE. THROUGHOUT THE DAY, AS A HALO OF SUNLIGHT GRACE TO THE MEMORIAL, MANY PAUSED TO SAY A PRAYER. MORE THAN 700 PEOPLE FROM NEW JERSEY WERE KILLED ON 9/11. 39 OF THEM WERE FROM JERSEY CITY. >> ATTRIBUTE WAS ALSO HELP TONIGHT AT THE 9/11 POSTCARDS MEMORIAL IN STATEN ISLAND. THE MEMORIAL RESEMBLING TWO FOLDED POSTCARDS SURROUNDED BY AMERICAN FLAGS STANDS ACROSS A BACKDROP OF LOWER MANHATTAN. GRANITE PLAQUES THROUGHOUT THE STRUCTURE HAVE BEEN ENGRAVED WITH THE NAMES OF THE 263 RESIDENTS KILLED IN 9/11. >> SECRETARY OF DEFENSE LLOYD AUSTIN LED ATTRIBUTE CEREMONY. PRESIDENT BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS LATER RESET THEM OUT OF THE MEMORIAL HONORING THE PEOPLE WHO DIED WHEN FLIGHT 77 CRASHED INTO THE BUILDING. THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT ALSO LATER REFIT THE CRASH MEMORIAL IN SHANKSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA