Somerville residents joined police, firefighters, public officials and a color guard Sunday on a vigil procession down the Community Path to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. 

Four of the city's firefighters led the procession carrying the American and Massachusetts flags. Police Chief Thomas Pasquarello and several officers came behind them, followed by Mayor Joseph Curtatone, members of the Board of Alderman and the School Committee. 

As the crowd of public officers and residents walked slowly and quietly from Cedar Street toward Davis Square, passersby joined them, and others watched the procession from their back porches. 

Once at Davis Square, everyone assembled to listen to Reverend Molly Baskette, of First Church Somerville, recite a poem and lead a prayer. Then Curtatone spoke. 

"The entire nation is gathered right now," he said, "to remember the events of 9/11."

"Much of the time, the media focuses on the divisions in our nation ... but the tragedy of Sept. 11 and the way we all come together to remember, as we did on that day on this very spot here, in Somerville, reminds us that we are also a nation that is able to come together." 

At 1 p.m., a bell began to chime as the crowd fell quiet for one minute as part of a nationwide moment of silence. 

Afterward, Board of Aldermen members Bruce Desmond, Robert Trane, William White and Rebekah Gewirtz, as well as Mark Niedergang of the School Committee shared their personal experiences of Sept. 11. 

One 26-year-old woman also recalled her memories from that day, and a World War II veteran compared his time at war with that of soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Finally, the Somerville Community Chorus sang "Grant Us Peace," and the crowd joined in for "America the Beautiful." A bagpipe player concluded the ceremony with "Amazing Grace."