In the circle memorial in Taylor Park, a few hundred people gathered on Sunday to remember those in the community lost in the terrorist attacks 10 years ago.

As Millburn Mayor Sandra Haimoff read each of the eight names on the memorial wall, former Mayor Tom McDermott, who was mayor the day the World Trade Center fell, clanged a fire bell.

Mark Charette. Tommy Clark. Steven Lillianthal. Richard Madden. Patrick Murphy. Don Peterson. Ian Schneider. Frank Spinelli.

Afterward, McDermott recalled how residents helped each other get through the days, weeks and months after the attacks that were so strongly felt here.

“This community came together like I’ve never seen before in my life,” he said. “It was tremendous, not just financially, but emotionally too. I was proud to be a part of that.”

Under a plaque of names, a bouquet of red roses was placed on the ground and someone had dropped some pink rose petals around it.

The names of the family members of Steven Lillianthal were written on stones and placed his name on the wall.

James Clark, whose brother Tommy died that day, spoke on behalf of the families and acknowledged those who still live in town – the Charette family, the Schneider family and the Spinelli family, as well as his parents.

“I’m not sure the passage of time helps that much,” he said. “But what does help are the kind words, the pats on the back, the support of this community.

“Tommy love growing up in Millburn,” he said. “His first baseball game was here in Taylor Park…This memorial is where I come to remember Tommy and our good friend Richard Madden, who also went to Millburn High School.”

Boy Scout Troop 17 led the audience in the pledge of allegiance, assisted by the color guard that included the Millburn Police and Firefighters.

Some in audience wiped away tears as Erin Hernon sang the National Anthem, accompanied by the Millburn High School Brass Ensemble and when Dave Tyms played Amazing Grace on the bagpipes.

Alicia Cuomo, who was in middle school at the time, read a poem she had written about 9/11 that spoke to the inability to erase the pain or change the event but offered the warmth of having people around and “the promise to never forget.”

Charles B. McKenna, director of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security, said while it seems like yesterday to him, he has talked to the families that have had to endure the grief and pain everyday, it seems like a long time ago to them.

But beyond the grief and suffering of that day, another feeling came from that day, McKenna said – a feeling of unity.

“It was a time like no other in my life,” said McKenna, who also read a proclamation by the governor declaring today Patriot Day. “It was a time when people stopped thinking about themselves and thought about each other.” He went on to say he’d like to “recapture that emotion of national goodwill.”

The Chatham Brass, an ensemble of the Chatham Community Band, played before and after the ceremony, and it played “God Bless America” during the ceremony and the crowd sang along.

It was important, said organizer Mary McNett that the township involve young people of all ages in the ceremony, as well as the first responders.

“As we go about our daily lives, please remember the police and firefighters and members of the armed forces who are keeping watch to protect our freedom every day,” she said.