Four years ago Saturday, New Orleans and the nation faced a fury that's still being felt.
On the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the city it destroyed remembered those who lost their lives.
Bells marked the solemn occasion etched in the souls of New Orleanians at 9:38 a.m. Saturday, the exact time of the first levee breach four years ago.
"We got here through the grace of God, because if we weren't a blessed people, we would not be here today to do what we're doing," said Mayor Ray Nagin.
A crowd gathered at the Charity Memorial Cemetery to commemorate the greatest natural and manmade disaster in the nation's history. Hurricane Katrina submerged 80 percent of the city underwater.
On the fourth anniversary, people honored the lives lost, changed and those that remain unclaimed.
"We knew the spirit would never go underwater," said New Orleans Councilmember Jackie Clarkson. "We knew if it did, it was waterproof. We knew we would rise again."
Words of hope echoed throughout ceremony, with special thanks given to first responders.
"They mostly and mightily led the force, the charge never to look back, only to look forward and only to rescue," Clarkson said.
"I've decided to move back to Louisiana," said U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honore'.
Honore' was another mighty force during Hurricane Katrina. He pledged his help in the recovery, while sending a message to President Barack Obama.
"We need that medical center," Honore' said. "The people of New Orleans need to assist, and the president needs to write the check."
The somber occasion ended with an unveiling marking a decent burial place for unidentified causalities of Katrina.
During the ceremony, Nagin highlighted post-Katrina milestones in the city. They included improvements in the public school system, Brad Pitt's "Make It Right" program and the renaissance of Lakeview and other areas.
Lower 9th Ward Remembers
New Orleans Councilmember Cynthia Willard-Lewis hosted a memorial at the intersection of North Claiborne Avenue and Tennessee Street on Saturday.
That's where the Lower 9th Ward Katrina monument is located, at the foot of the Claiborne Avenue Bridge.
Organizers said the tribute, like many others, is in honor of the families who lost loved ones during hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
"We don't look at what we don't have, we look at what we work and fight for -- a future of our welfare and not our woes," Willard-Lewis said.
Gentilly Remembers
In Gentilly, New Orleans Councilwoman Cynthia Hedge-Morrell marked Saturday's anniversary with a wreath-laying ceremony and bell-ringing.
It's held every year at the location of the breach in the London Avenue Canal. Hedge-Morrell said that when she looks back at Katrina, she sees two distinct stories.
"These homes will never come back again, so you think about that first when walking out," she said. "But you also think about the tenaciousness of people, like this guy right here, who knew we were going to come back."
Katrina March, Second-Line
Most of Saturday's events were somber -- but not all of them.
The New Orleans Katrina Commemoration Foundation hosted its annual Katrina March and Second-Line.
Organizers said they want to focus on what the future holds, while taking into consideration all the people who lost their lives during and after Katrina.
The march included a reading of the names of the people who died due to the 9th Ward levee breach.
Obama Marks Katrina Anniversary
President Barack Obama promised to visit New Orleans this year, something he has yet to do since taking office.
On Saturday, in his weekly address, he marked the fourth anniversary with words of encouragement for the Gulf Coast.
"New Orleans is the fastest growing city in America, as many displaced are coming home," he said. "As we rebuild and recover, we must learn the lessons of Katrina so our nation is more protected and resilient in the face of disaster."
The president said he wants to make sure Katrina's legacy is that of a country that is "safer and more prepared for the challenges that may come."
Upcoming Events
There are two more events devoted to Hurricane Katrina remembrance.
St. Bernard Parish's Community Celebration started at 5:30 p.m. at Torres Park. Organizers said it's a chance for people to see all that is good and enduring in the parish.
There's also the Fourth-Annual Candlelight Vigil, hosted by
And don't forget about the 4th annual candlelight vigil, hosted by New Orleans city councilwomen Cynthia Willard-Lewis and Cynthia Hedge-Morrell.
The vigil is on the levee just across from the Nazareth Inn Senior Center at 9630 Hayne Blvd. at 7:15 p.m.
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