On the 15th anniversary of the crash of Flight 93, people of all ages gathered to show their respects.

Tammy Long said she was born in raised in the area but has since moved out of the state.

She said she still remembers the day Flight 93 crashed in her hometown.

On Sunday she brought her two young children to the service of remembrance to honor the 40 people who lost their lives.

“It’s a difficult thing to understand but I think they have a good grasp of it, even as young as they are,” Long said.

Although they were born years later, they seemed to understand why the memorial is so special.

Bradyn Long, Tammy’s son, described what he knew about the crash and said “people who were in the plane saved many other lives and it could’ve been a bigger tragedy, also…if it crashed into the school that’s here or the White House maybe.”

During the ceremony, it was noted that a generation gap is inevitable over time.

But as Secretary Sally Jewell of the U.S. Department of the Interior, recited a reflection of a teen who visited the memorial, we learned that giving thanks has no age requirement.

“You’ve all done a completely selfless act for the good of our nation. I was only 2 years old at the time. So I do not remember it happening. But that does not mean I have forgotten what you did. Thank you much for your sacrifice,” Jewell read.

On that same September day in 2001, Najee smith said his big sister was born.

And when he was old enough to understand, his family explained the significance of that day.

“I was so shocked, I didn’t even speak for about a week,” Smith said.

He sang with his choir, the Newark Boys Choir, at the event before a humbled crowd.

And he thanked those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

“They’re actually my hero because they actually sacrificed their life to save us people right now. So they’re actually all of our heroes, I think,” Smith said.