The San Francisco Fire Department is preparing to mark the 15th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attack, a national tragedy firefighters in the department responded to.
"There were several members of the SF Fire Department who on their own went to ground zero and assisted with rescue and recovery," fire department spokeswoman Mindy Talmedge said. "We owe all of our respect to first repsonders that went into that building when everyone else was coming out."
One of those firefighters will ring a department bell at first responders plaza at 6:45 a.m. Sunday, symbolizing the final call for 343 New York City firefighters who died trying to save lives.
A piece of the World Trade Center also will be part of the ceremony. The family of Betty Ong, who was from San Francisco, and the fire department got the piece to the city by the bay.
Ong died in the attacks working as a flight attendant on American Airlines Flight 11. Hijackers flew that plane into the north tower of the World Trade Center.
Fifteen years later, the memories and the unveiling of a piece of the towers stir up a lot of emotion.
"Just thinking about it is an emotional thing for me," Talmedge said. "I think there will be a lot of different reactions. I think it will be a somber moment."
