New Year's Eve revelers lined up at security checkpoints to stake out spots for the annual dropping of the Waterford crystal ball at the stroke of midnight.

Among them was Javier Romero, 21, who said participating in the celebration was part of getting back to normal after the terrorist attacks. "It's kind of my part of saying I'm not afraid," he said.

The crowd fell silent when the night's official festivities began at 6 p.m. as 7-year-old Logan Miller, who lost his uncle in the attacks, rang a bell onstage at Times Square in a ceremony to honor the Sept. 11 victims. Bells were simultaneously rung at churches and synagogues citywide as the ball was hoisted into position.

A giant screen over Times Square displayed an image of a fluttering U.S. flag and listed every police precinct, firehouse, port authority unit, airline and nation that lost people in the attacks.

"I've been here nine years and the silence of a large crowd, the moment when Times Square was completely silent, was remarkable," said event producer Peter Kohlmann. "I don't think it's ever been as silent as that."

Some 500,000 people -- about the same as last year -- were expected to ring in the new year, as partygoers have done in Times Square since 1904.

"We thought we'd show our appreciation and American spirit to New York," said Malinda Genieczko of Manalapan, N.J., who came to Times Square with her husband, Ken.

Smaller celebrations took place across the country, from fireworks in Philadelphia and Seattle to a bash at an Anchorage, Alaska, bar featuring a Canadian rock band that plays "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Some celebrations -- including Denver's citywide party and fireworks in New York's Central Park -- were canceled. About 20 U.S. communities also dropped their First Night events because of terrorism fears or lack of money and volunteers.

In Boston, city officials estimated more than 1 million people took part in the city's 26th annual First Night celebration -- the oldest in the country.

In Hartford, Conn., revelers at the city's New Year's Eve celebration at City Hall were given the opportunity to reflect on the events of 2001 by writing any regrets on a scrap of paper. The scraps were to be tossed into a bonfire.

Cheap hotel rooms and a half-million dollars worth of fireworks helped lure revelers to Las Vegas' glittery Strip. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority predicted 282,000 people would come to town to mark the new year.

The New Year's celebration in Times Square was New York's largest event since the Sept. 11 attack at the World Trade Center killed nearly 3,000 people.

A few miles to the south, dozens of rescue workers continued digging Monday night through the trade center ruins.

"I'm just looking forward to a new year," said firefighter Larry Muccini, one of dozens of firefighters and police officers taking part in the round-the-clock effort in lower Manhattan.

At Times Square, some 7,000 police officers were on duty -- twice the number for an ordinary New Year's celebration -- and some carried radiation detectors. There were also hand-held metal detectors and bomb-sniffing dogs at the checkpoints.

Plans called for police sharpshooters on rooftops, and all aircraft except police helicopters were banned over Times Square.

"When I was here in 2000 they came and checked everybody's bag," said Ernesto Becerrio, 27, of Boston. "I don't mind if they do because it's for our safety."

In addition to the bell-ringing ceremony, organizers made several changes to the celebration to honor the victims of the attacks. Thousands of red, white and blue balloons and pompoms were handed out.

The ball itself honored the victims: The 504 triangular panels that cover the 1,070-pound ball were engraved with the names of each police precinct, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey unit, firehouse, airline and nation that suffered losses Sept. 11.

It was the final New Year's celebration as mayor for Rudolph Giuliani. He swore in his successor, Michael Bloomberg, in an unusual public ceremony just after midnight.

Bloomberg said the ceremony at Times Square would send a message that the city has rebounded from Sept. 11.

Cesar Alvarez, 25, was in Times Square trying to keep warm in a folding chair wrapped in a 6-by-10 foot American flag.

"You can't be afraid," he said. "You've got to keep on going on with your life. Have fun."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.