TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – More than 2,900 little U.S. flags were laid down Friday in honor of those who died in the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks.
“We were just dumbfounded that something like this could happen in our country,” Tallahassee resident David Dowdy said.
A ceremony was held at the “9/11″ memorial in Tallahassee to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the attacks.
The ceremony opened with Florida State University’s Marching Chiefs’ rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner, followed by flag presentations and words from elected officials.
Mike Terhune is the director of Team Guardian, a non-profit that supports local veterans and first responders.
“Twenty-five years later, to see this kind of turnout is great,” Terhune said. “I wish it was 10 times as much, but it’s really nice to see people coming out, honoring and remembering. ”
In 2023, the group erected a memorial in honor of those who died in 9/11, featuring an 11-foot steel beam recovered from the World Trade Center after the attacks.
“Met a gentleman here today who was three of his cousins who were killed on 9/11,” said Terhune.
Dowdy, along with Jerry Coe, remembers 9/11 like it happened yesterday.
Both men were full-time firefighters with Tallahassee Fire Department and watched it all unfold in real-time.
“We were at the airport station, station 5,” Dowdy said.
More than 400 first responders died in the attacks, and even more have since passed from illnesses linked to toxic exposure at Ground Zero.
“You can see on their faces that they knew were not coming back,” Coe said. “I just got that feeling, and it’s always been with me. ”
As of today, more than 1,000 victims in the attacks are still unidentified.
Terhune said it’s his hope that they can one day pay each of them their proper respects.
“It’s honoring them that really paid the ultimate sacrifice,” said Terhure. “That’s what it’s all about. That’s what I want. ”
The 9/11 memorial is open for public viewing at the American Red Cross in Tallahassee, located at 1115 Easterwood Dr.
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