Thursday marks 24 years since the Sept. 11 terror attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people in New York City, at the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania.
To remember their lives and sacrifices, people across the Jacksonville area are taking part in several events throughout the day.
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Naval Station Mayport hosted a ceremony Thursday morning, and fire prevention chief James Fletcher attended.
He told News4JAX the day is difficult because he is reminded of his brother-in-law, Jacques Fontan, a Navy SEAL who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2005, a war that began after the 9/11 attacks.
Fletcher said he was in college on Sept. 11, 2001. One thing that stood out to him that he will always remember is what people did in the hours, days, weeks and months immediately after the terror attacks.
“How patriotic we all got and all of a sudden it was not him versus her or this political party versus that political party. We were all united as one. Looking back, it was amazing given what we have been through since then and how divided this country has gotten. But for that period of time, on that day, how united we were,” Fletcher said.
A custom-made flag serves as a difficult reminder for one woman who lost two cousins in the Twin Towers. The flag has all the names of nearly 3000 people who lost their lives on that day.
“It is hard,” Melissa said. “You always wonder what they were going through, what they were feeling. What they were thinking. Did they suffer? Things like that go through your head and then everybody who was left behind trying to pick up the pieces.”
She was among dozens standing at Naval Station Mayport reflecting on the events of that day 24 years ago.
Chief Petty Officer Sunny Yeung has that day etched in his memory. He was a high school student in New York at the time. That day inspired him to devote his life to a career of service.
“As an 18-year-old or 17-year-old, we don’t really know what we don’t know. But after that day, it was pretty much set in stone that I knew that wanted to join the military when I was a junior and senior in high school,” Yeung said.
For Melissa, 24 years later, the grief is not gone, but she has found some peace.
“They are in a better place than we are,” Melissa said. “They are with God. There is no more pain. There’s no more suffering. God bless everyone and all the people who passed and all the relatives that are back here, missing them.
There are plenty of other ceremonies and events happening today outside of this one at Naval Station Mayport:
The St. Augustine Fire Department’s Main Station at 101 Malaga St. also hosted a 9/11 remembrance ceremony
The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department attended a Habitat for Humanity Remembrance ceremony and volunteer build in Atlantic Beach at 2150 Mayport Road.
A JFRD firefighter is also doing a stair climb challenge at 9 a.m. at the Williams Family YMCA in Mandarin in honor of the firefighters who were killed at the World Trade Center.
There will be a similar event at UNF at Hodges Stadium starting at 11 a.m., where at least 100 people are expected to participate.