By Mark Garrod, PA Sport Golf Correspondent, Long Island

The United States Golf Association will honour those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks of September 11 during a special ceremony on the eve of the US Open on Wednesday.

The USGA will present an ambulance to the Fire Department of New York and will accept a golf ball found in the rubble of the World Trade Centre as a donation to the USGA Museum.

Ambulances were also presented by the USGA to St Andrews and Pearl Harbour during World War Two.

"In presenting this ambulance to FDNY, we salute the city where the USGA was founded in 1894 and thank the community hosting this year's United States Open Championship," USGA president Reed Mackenzie said.

"When we remember that many New York City firefighters and emergency personnel regularly play at Bethpage (the Long Island course hosting this year's championship), we recognise his occasion provides an appropriate time to honour the people, the heroes, who make this country strong."

The donation will be commemorated with a plaque to be placed on the ambulance, which reads:

"From the United States Golf Association to the City and People of New York, In Remembrance of 9/11/01."

The golf ball discovered bears the logo of the New York Shipping Association, formerly housed on the 20th floor of Tower Two in the World Trade Centre complex.

It will be placed on exhibition at the USGA Museum in Far Hills, New Jersey, accompanied by an American flag that will be flown over the United States Capitol on June 13 in honour of all who lost their lives.