SHANKSVILLE -- From infants to the elderly, hundreds of people gathered near Shanksville yesterday on a chilly, windy, overcast morning to pay tribute to the passengers of United Airlines Flight 93.

The flight that crashed in the rural Pennsylvania hillside after being hijacked last Sept. 11 may have been destined for a location in Washington, D.C.

But, because a few passengers aboard the flight fought the hijackers, the plane smashed into a field about 100 miles southwest of State College, killing all 40 passengers on board.

"Today is truly a day of remembrance," Pennsylvania Gov. Mark Schweiker told the crowd. "[Today] we remember those heroes that unselfishly gave their lives so others could live."

Schweiker said the passengers of the flight, which was originally destined for San Francisco, fought the first battle in America's fight against terror.

"Some say America's war against terror began in October ... but we know better," he said. "It was here freedom took its first stand."

The morning's memorial began at 10:06 a.m. -- the time of the crash -- with the reading of the names of all 40 passengers on board, followed by the ringing of a gold bell.

"We are all grateful," Director of Homeland Security and former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge told the listeners. "Your loved ones did not expect to serve the cause of freedom that Tuesday morning, but serve freedom they did."

Ridge also took a moment during his statement to thank the citizens of Shanksville for their help and support.

"This sleepy little town puts its arms around you and embraces you," he said.

After those remarks, the family members of Flight 93 stood and applauded the crowd that included many residents of Shanksville and surrounding communities.

President Bush made his first visit to the Somerset County site after the memorial to visit with the family members of Flight 93 passengers.

Following the ceremony, the crowd showed its support for the families of the passengers by waving to them as they boarded buses to leave the site.

The masses of people from throughout the county attended the day's events for different reasons.

"I've had a real hard time with this," Greensburg resident Mimi Bourquin said. "We're here for the people that can't be here."

Bourquin attended the service with Acosta resident and war veteran Stephen Gavel.

Gavel said he was attending out of a personal responsibility.

"I've been a veteran and it's my duty to come out here and pay my respects to the dead," he said. "We had a tragedy that never should have happened."

Barb Muro of Lambertsville said she was attending because of the impact the crash had on her life -- literally.

Muro lives only minutes away from the crash site, which today is just a mound of dirt with small American flags on it.

"It shook my house," she said. "It was such a strange noise."

Muro said she arrived at the scene about 10 minutes after the crash and was one of the first people on the scene.

"[It was] unreal," she said. "I just couldn't believe it."