LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- First responders across Kentucky paid tribute to the victims and heroes of 9/11 on Thursday, including a ceremony at the Louisville Fire Department's headquarters.
The ceremony started with a radio call recognizing the sacrifices made by first responders on 9/11.
"Attention all companies, today we lower our flag half staff and pause for a moment of silence to honor the memory of fallen firefighters and other first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice responding to the World Trade Center on September 11th of 2001.
"We recall their courage, compassion, and dedication to duty as they willingly advanced towards danger rather than retreat.
"We also honor the memory of our fallen brother and sister firefighters, police officers, emergency medical personnel, and the servicemen and women who have given their lives before and since that day protecting others.
"Today we recognize you and we thank you. Your legacy and the standard you establish is our great inheritance. We will never forget."
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg made brief remarks during the ceremony.
"It's hard to believe that 9/11 — a day that changed us as a nation, that changed us as people — was 24 years ago today," he said. "Like everyone else old enough, I clearly remember that day, where I was when I first heard the news, when I watched the towers fall."
Greenberg said he made his first visit to the 9/11 memorial in New York a few months ago, and it made quite an impact.
"... seeing stories about the heroic first responder, remembering things that we had forgotten, learning new things, hearing stories about the people who perished and the people who saved lives," he said.
Greenberg also recalled his grandfather was a firefighters at Engine 207, where and served many decades before 9/11. He expressed thanks to those who made the ultimate sacrifice on 9/11, as well as the men and women "who wear the uniform every day since that day, today, and into the future, including those here in Louisville. Our first responders are the living legacy of those heroes who embody an amazing commitment to service. They run to the emergency when others are running away."
Louisville Fire Chief Brian O'Neill said he recently told a class graduating from the academy empathy is important when it comes to being a firefighter.
"I believe it's true for any first responder, police, EMS, firefighter that was personified 24 years ago today, on Sept. 11, the type of empathy required, that care for somebody else to recognize the suffering in others and realize that you can do something to improve it and to run towards it."
He also praised the courage of the passengers on Flight 93, who refused to let the terrorists complete their mission.
"Think about the folks that were on that United Flight 93," O'Neill said. "They had a choice. They could sit quietly, but they knew what was going on. The first two flights -- they didn't know what was going on -- but United 93, they did, and they made a choice to do something saying, 'our lives are already forfeit, but we can do something to help and save others.' That requires empathy, that requires love."
He closed by saying: "Every good speech is supposed to have a call to action, right? So here it is. Remember those that we lost. All of the people that were taken from us that day, whether they were just going to work, getting on a plane, or rushing towards disaster to try to help others.
"Remember them. Remember those that died because of the 9/11 illnesses and disease. We've lost more firefighters to the 9/11 illnesses than we did on 9/11....
"You remember them, you honor them by choosing kindness over anger, choosing compassion over hate, and choosing love every chance that you get."
Other Local Tributes
Dozens of Butler High School students got up early Thursday to honor the victims 9/11 by planting thousands of American flags.
The students planted 2,977 flags outside the school, one for every life lost in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Students said it was important to them to remember the victims and their families, even though they weren't alive when 9-11 happened.
Another remembrance ceremony was held in Jeffersontown at the 9/11 - First Responders Remembrance Plaza. A chaplain spoke, and a wreath was placed in the plaza. A bell sounded four times to acknowledge each time a hijacked plane crashed.
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