The clouds parted, the sun shone and Pittsburgh's union workers paraded through Downtown today, accompanied by marching bands, drum lines and something unusual for the annual Labor Day event -- the sounds of silence.

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As usual for Labor Day, Pittsburgh's union workers marched down Grant Street past the City-County Building. But this year, each group paused briefly to pay quiet tribute to the man whose body lay in state inside, Mayor Bob O'Connor.

The Labor Day parade was dedicated to Mr. O'Connor, who began his work career in the city's steel mills before entering the fast food industry, and later, politics.

As the first unit, a color guard, reached the front of the City-County Building on Grant Street, all went silent to honor Mr. O'Connor, who died Friday night after a two-month battle with brain cancer. The mayor's coffin is lying in state inside city hall through tonight, and thousands have been lining up to pay their respects. Prominent state and local politicians and labor leaders, arrayed behind a black banner with white letters bearing the words "In Memory of Mayor Bob O'Connor," turned to face the building. Some of the spectators along the route wept during a moment of silence, including Rosalia Pampena, of Highland Park, who held a picture of Mayor O'Connor in front of the City-County Building as tears streamed down her face.

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Slideshow: Labor Day Parade 2006 / In Memory of Mayor Bob O'Connor