Valley cities pay tribute to 9/11

Eleven years after the worst act of terrorism the country has ever seen, all across Arizona people stopped to remember those who died.

It was a somber September 11th in the Valley. As flags flew at half staff, the cloudy skies opened up, raining on memorial ceremonies everywhere.

Throughout the Valley, each city paid tribute to the infamous day in its own way.

In Chandler, the town dedicated a new monument at the fire department. A steal beam from one of the collapsed World Trade Center towers now sits just beyond the front door.

Over in Mesa, volunteers went to work creating a beautiful tribute. An urban garden has sprung up with 106 individual boxes for flowers, plants, vegetables and fruits.

"It's kind of a tribute to those who have lost their lives and their families. It reminds us that we live in a free land and we should be thankful for that," Luana Anderson said.

Blowing in Tempe's winds, a flag and a name for each person killed in the attacks is planted firmly in the ground. Nearly 3,000 flags fill the "Healing Field" at Tempe Beach Park.

In Scottsdale, instead of flags you'll find 3,000 memorial cards and photos of the dead arranged elegantly inside the Performing Arts Center.

City workers in Phoenix also paused Tuesday for a moment of silence. As Mayor Greg Stanton reminded everyone, despite all of the fighting and bickering seen and heard between politicians, businesses, and individuals; we all still come together as Americans.

"Remember that what unites us is so much stronger than what divides us. That is one of the legacies of this tragedy," Stanton said.