Bay Area commemorates 24 years since 9/11 terror attacks: 'Never forget and always remember'

"SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- It was a solemn morning across the Bay Area as victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks were remembered. The San Francisco Fire Department held its remembrance ceremony at the Public Safety Building, marking 24 years since the attack. Names of 343 firefighters and 8 EMS providers from FDNY were read aloud. In all, 2,977 people died during the attacks at the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania during al-Qaeda hijackings."

""We went without expectations," he said. "We were there to help in any way possible. We were asked by the members of the fire department in New York to help dig on the pile for their members that were lost. We also served as the honor guard for funerals, because their folks were either gone or still looking for their members, so everything we did was to really to try to honor the New York Fire Department and assist in any way possible.""

"Elected officials including, Mayor Daniel Lurie, were at the ceremony. Lurie told ABC7 he was in New York during 9/11. "It's an emotional day for our country," he said. "For me, personally, having been right there that day. And I saw the best of America that day. I saw the best of America in the days that followed.""

Multiple Bay Area fire departments and local officials held solemn remembrance ceremonies marking 24 years since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. The San Francisco Fire Department read the names of 343 firefighters and eight EMS providers from FDNY while noting the total of 2,977 lives lost at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen described traveling to New York to help dig through the pile and serve as an honor guard for funerals. Mayor Daniel Lurie, who was in New York on 9/11, called the day emotional and recalled the best of America. Additional ceremonies occurred in Oakland and San José, and a podcast featuring Crispen will be available on social media.

Read at ABC7 San Francisco