Luis Thomas, Brian Caslin and Royanna Commisso raise the United States flag.

Taps sounded and "Amazing Grace" filled the air overlooking Ground Zero on 9 September, as ML dedicated a display of flags to commemorate the men, women and children who died in the 11 September terrorist attacks.

Under a blue sky and hot sun reminiscent of that tragic day, the display of nine military and public safety flags — and a plaque remembering ML's David Brady, Bob McIlvaine and Michael Packer — was unveiled in a half-hour ceremony on the 10^th floor set-back of 2 World Financial Center, ML's South Tower.

"Today, we join to raise the flags that flew over Ground Zero once again, as a permanent installation in memory of our loss and to commemorate this milestone in our recovery," said Dave Komansky, chairman and CEO, in his opening remarks.

Stan O'Neal and Dave Komansky after unveiling the plaque dedicated to David Brady, Bob McIlvaine and Michael Packer.

As Staff Sergeant Joseph Streeter, a Marine Corps bugler, played the National Anthem, VP Brian Caslin, Corporate Services Management and VP Royanna Commisso, Health Care Services, clipped the U.S. flag to the rope on the center flagpole. Then VP Luis Thomas, Corporate Services, gently pulled the cord 13 times to raise the flag.

Komansky recalled that it was just days after the September terrorist attacks last year that a giant American flag was unfurled from the same 10^th-floor ledge.

Major John Cornelio raises the flag of the United States Army with Margaret McDonnell, wife of Brian McDonnell, a New York City police officer who died in the 11 September attacks.

"We don't know where the flag came from, or who put it there, but it became a powerful symbol of our national unity, a beacon of resolve and strength," said Komansky, who faced a new seven-story U.S. flag flying from the east side of the South Tower, overlooking Ground Zero.

Several weeks after the attack, in a small, unplanned and unpublicized ceremony, members of the New York police department came to the spot and raised the flags of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. Later, the flag of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey was also raised.

And it was this collection of nine flags that was re-created and unveiled on 9 September, along with the dedication of a plaque for Brady, McIlvaine and Packer. The dedication will be broadcast as part of ML's commemorative service on Wednesday, 11 September, at 8:15 am Eastern time.

The dedication began with VP Collette O'Connor, Global Assignment Services, performing "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipes. And then Caslin, Commisso and Thomas raised the U.S. flag.

Dave Komansky said the U.S. flag flying from the South Tower "became a beacon of resolve and strength."

The audience of 85, including ML employees, representatives of the armed services and public safety groups, and family members, remained standing as the other eight flags were raised. Each military flag was presented to a member of the service by a widow or family member of a uniformed officer killed in the attacks.

With the flags raised, Stan O'Neal, president and COO, said they would fly in tribute to the "heroism, courage and sacrifice" of the men and women who serve in the armed forces and protect the nation at home and abroad.

Stan O'Neal said, "Today, we celebrate our freedom by honoring the men and women who preserve it."

"On September 11, we all faced the reality of evil, lawlessness, aggression and war," O'Neal said. "Today, we celebrate our freedom by honoring the men and women who preserve it."

Saying it was equally important to honor the memory of those lost on 11 September, O'Neal, joined by Komansky, unveiled a plaque to commemorate the three ML employees who died on 11 September.

The plaque, a copy of which will be located in the lobby of the North Tower, reads:

"In memory of David B. Brady, Robert G. McIlvaine, Michael B. Packer, and all of our heroes, neighbors, friends and loved ones who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. In our loss, let us find comfort. In our anger, let us find resolve. In our memories, let us find courage."