Monday marks the 16th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks, the deadliest such attacks on American soil.
Residents and emergency personnel across the Bay Area on Monday are taking time out of their days to remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost.
In the East Bay, a somber mood was felt as people paid their respects to those who died after United Airlines Flight 93, which was bound for San Francisco, crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The passengers on that flight — several with Bay Area ties — are known for fighting back against the hijackers, who were believed to have plans to fly the plane into the U.S. Capitol.
Across the bay, firefighters in San Francisco gathered at Station 7 and the other 43 stations across the city by the bay just after sunrise to pay their respects to fellow first responders and civilians during a bell-ringing ceremony. Fire crews also lowered the American flag to half-staff and read the names of the 343 New York City firefighters killed trying to save others from the World Trade Center.
Even as the years pass by, Lt. Jonathan Baxter with the San Francisco Fire Department noted that the annual ceremonies must not be forgotten.
"It's a very important reminder that you can't just teach, you have to show, and if we take this lightly and we don't remember it, I think that would send a negative message to not only our community but most importantly our youth," he said.
Local
In San Jose, firefighters at Station 1 held a moment of silence followed by the ringing of a bell to mark the moment when the North Tower of the World Trade Center was struck by the first hijacked airplane.
Other 9/11 memorial events were scheduled in Alameda at the USS Hornet at 10 a.m. and in Danville at 5:30 p.m. at Oak Hill Park.
