VIDEO AND PHOTO GALLERY: Hartland Deerfield Fire Authority Helps Dedicate New 9/11 Memorial In Brighton

"Never forget," was the overall theme and tone during the 9/11 memorial ceremony Sunday that included members of the .

Hundreds of people came to see the piece of World Trade Center steel displayed in front of Fire Station 31, and many tears were shed at the emotional event.

Matt Smith, the Brighton Area Fire Department assistant fire chief, spoke during the ceremony about growing up in northern New Jersey, with the Twin Towers always visible in the skyline.

Smith also spoke of his childhood friend, a New York City police officer, who logged more than 450 hours searching Ground Zero for survivors, and how he died in January 2006 from a respiratory disease caused by inhaling all of the debris that day.

"So as we remember the almost 3,000 people who were killed in New York, Arlington, Virginia, and Shanksville, PA, we ask that we also not forget those who gave their lives and continue to give their lives in the days, weeks, months and years following the Sept. 11, 2001," Smith said.

"When we look back on Sept. 11 and the events following, I wish that spirit that was shown throughout the country, in the days, weeks and months following, I wish we could bottle that up and put it on a shelf next to our fire extinguishers," he said. "And then be able to take that bottle down, break it open and say, 'let's infect everybody with this. Let's treat everybody like neighbors, let's treat everyone like countrymen.'"

U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, whose district includes the Brighton and Hartland areas, spoke about how America beat the terrorists that fateful day 10 years ago.

"When the terrorists were standing and saying, 'we are winning,' those in the very midst of the turmoil were showing the rest of the world who we are," Rogers said. "And we're bigger than any hatred. We're bigger than any organization who wants to tear the fabric of America apart. We are Americans. What they didn't know on the day of that particular event was that yes, you can tear our buildings down, and yes, you can make us bleed. But you can never diminish or tear apart the American spirit. That's who we are."

Hamburg Township residents Jennifer Panning, her husband Scott Panning, and their two daughters Sloane and Morgen attended the ceremony Sunday morning to remember the events of Sept. 11, 2001 and support local first responders.

"Our girls (were young) when it happened," Scott Panning said. "So we're teaching them about it now so they won't forget."

Jenifer Panning said she remembers she had just dropped her girls off at her mother's house when she heard about the attacks. She made sure her daughters were not watching the live TV coverage, then continued on to work.

"It was very emotional, sad, troubling and frightening," she said. "Not being able to understand a lot of why somebody would do something like that. It changed us."

Brighton residents Todd and Teresa Arnold said they wanted to come out and see the memorial on Sunday.

"It was very emotional, and more than I expected," Teresa Arnold said about the ceremony. "I have love for all the people who gave their lives. It was an incredible honor to be here today."