Nearly 3,000 Americans, including 496 Long Islanders, lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.

Each year, they're remembered at ceremonies across Long Island, including at a sunrise ceremony at Point Lookout.

A total of 200 Town of Hempstead residents were killed 19 years ago Friday.

Long Island residents like Maria Santorelli said the memorial service brought her comfort during a time of confusion and uncertainty. She lost her mother on 9/11.

"We come every year because this gives us solace to be on the beach because she loved to be out here," says Santorelli.

The event was notably different for 2020 -- it was a drive-in, with chairs in between cars.

The pandemic, though, allowed some new faces to come out because they are working from home.

"Typically I would attend Mass, an 8:47 a.m. Mass at my church ... St.Peter's. I always do something to commemorate that day," says Valerie Laupheimer, of North Bellmore.

Those battling a new kind of grief were there as well - those who fought or are fighting illnesses stemming from being at Ground Zero.

"We lost 23 NYPD officers when the towers fell. My brother, that died over a year ago, was the 222nd NYPD officer to die from a 9/11-related illness," says Phil Alvarez, whose brother passed due to cancer.

Phil's brother Luis was an NYPD detective from Oceanside. He made headlines when he made an impassioned speech advocating for the health of his fellow heroes. His brother is continuing the fight.

"We can't stop remembering them, remembering the heroes, but we can't stop advocating for the people that continue to get sick every day," says Phil Alvarez.