Connecticut residents gathered at Norwalk City Hall Friday to commemorate the lives that were lost during the attacks in New York, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania on Sept. 11, 2001.

The ceremony marking 19 years since then was shorter than year’s past with a smaller turnout due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mayor Harry Rilling said it was “important to not let this day go by without having our annual memorial service” that recognizes the victims.

Fourteen Norwalk resident were killed in the attacks. Fourteen bells rang out during the service.

There was also prayer and a moment of silence.

“I always say that the terrorists wanted to destroy our country. They may have knocked us down for a few minutes, but we got back up, more powerful, more patriotic than ever," said Rilling.

A total of 2,977 people died during the attacks and many more responders have died after contracting illnesses while working at Ground Zero.