The state Senate stood Monday afternoon for a moment of silence to remember those who died on September 11, 2001.
The occasion was marked following Sunday's death of terrorist leader Osama bin Laden after a raid by American special forces at his compound in Pakistan.
"It was a tragic and stunning day in American history,'' Senate President Pro Tem Donald Williams said of September 11. "And we resolved not to forget.''
He added, "Last night, President Obama said justice has been done.''
The moment of silence was observed before the Senate was to begin the debate on Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's two-year, $40.2 billion budget.
Sen. John McKinney, R-Fairfield, the chamber's minority leader, also reflected on the lessons of Sept. 11. "We all have our own stories,'' he said. "For me its encompassed in several people.''
He spoke of a friend named Lauren, whose husband of less than a year "was on the 100th-plus floor of Cantor Fitzgerald.''
McKinney also spoke of an Easton couple who were the grandparents of the youngest person killed on Sept. 11. They also lost their son and daughter-in-law, who were on one of the planes that departed from Boston.
And then there was his daughter's friend. Her birthday is Sept. 11 and on that morning in 2001, her father decided to join her for breakfast and not rush into his office at the World Trade Center.
"He's alive today as a result,'' McKinney said.