WARWICK, R.I. -- Hoping to squeeze the last bit of summer out of September, a crowd of people converged upon Oakland Beach Wednesday to queue up for clam cakes and stretch out on the sand.
But all happy chatter stopped when people heard the soft, slow sound of a military flag troupe marching through their midst.
Many looked up and saw the large American flag flying at half-mast over the round memorial garden that is near the gazebo. And they remembered.
Wednesday marked the 12th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and people fell quietly in place behind the flag detail to join in a memorial service organized by a local veterans group.
"This day was a turning point for our country," said Anthony Paolino an Air Force veteran who helped launch the Warwick Veterans Service Organization which organized the remembrance ceremony.
As people gathered in the 9/11 memorial garden, the veterans were joined by the honor guard from the Warwick Police department. City and state officials arrived and people stood solemnly in the hot sun as the guests spoke of lives lost but patriotism unbowed.
Warwick Police Chief Col. Kevin McCarthy said that remembering 9/11 is chance to reaffirm "our faith and love in each other, not only as people, but as Americans."