For 14 years in a row, former Jersey City cop Paul Berman has played taps on his trumpet at the city's 9/11 memorial ceremony at Exchange Place.

Berman, 63, has provided a rendition of the solemn tune at countless local ceremonies over the years, including funerals for police officers. Asked if it ever makes him emotional, he paused and nodded.

"Usually right after," he said. "I try to keep it in until right after."

Berman's solo capped, as usual, yesterday morning's annual memorial ceremony commemorating the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. With One World Trade Center as a backdrop, morning fog obscuring the tip of its 408-foot spire, Sen. Bob Menendez, Mayor Steve Fulop and members of the City Council gathered with about 100 citizens to remember the lives of those killed 14 years ago yesterday.

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