As the minutes ticked away to 8:46 a.m. on Tuesday morning, about 200 people stood on the lawn of the Rome-Floyd Law Enforcement Center in anticipation of the church bells from St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and First Baptist Church sounding.

But in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001, no church bells sounded, and there was no warning of the massive explosion that was to come when a plane crashed into the World Trade Center, no time to prepare to save the lives of those lost that day.

Law enforcement, firefighters, emergency personnel and others gathered to honor the nearly 3,000 people that died when two planes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York, another crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and a third went down in Shanksville, Pa.

A red, white and blue memorial wreath was carried by an honor guard comprised of law enforcement and emergency personnel.

As the church bells rang in the distance, heads were bowed for a moment of silence before the Rev. David Thornton, chaplain of the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office, offered a prayer.

“We say ‘God bless America,’” Thornton said. “On this day Lord, let us bless you.”

The short service ended with a last call. The alarm code 555 indicates a company is returning to its quarters. A bell rang the last call for those who lost their lives as the ceremony ended.