Dozens gathered early Wednesday morning at the Yonkers 9/11 memorial along the waterfront to reflect on the 23 years since the terror attacks and mourn the lives lost that day and the dozens since.

"There are times that you know, I am very, very sad of course but my son I refer to him as a hero," said Hope Hollinsworth Coaxum, president of the Yonkers Goldstar Mothers. "He was my hero. He was a hero for this country."

Hollinsworth Coaxum, from Yonkers, lost her son U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Courtney Hollinsworth, 26, in combat in Iraq during the war on terror in 2007.

She was among those who read the names of the lives lost and participated in a flower ceremony, along the Hudson River with a direct view of Manhattan.

"Not a lot of people get to meet their heroes, but I raised mine," Coaxum said.

A total of 123 Westchester residents lost their lives on Sept. 11. Twenty-six of those were from Yonkers. Six more were killed during the war on terror and 14 from post-Sept. 11-related illnesses, including Yonkers Firefighter Ronald LaManna earlier this year.

One Yonkers resident, with the construction and trades industries, also died as a result of Sept. 11.

Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano said the city promises to never forget those lost and those still impacted by that tragic day.

"This day brings back a lot of painful memories for many of us, trauma but we are here to preserve what those stood for," he said.

Yonkers City Hall will participate in the Tribute in Light, a statewide remembrance where buildings, bridges and landmarks light up in blue.

For the first time, YonkersTron, the video board outside City Hall had a special display showcasing the photos and names of the 26 lives lost in the attacks.

A second remembrance ceremony took place at 7 p.m. at Conor Park.