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A 23rd anniversary commemoration ceremony of 911 was held in Forest City September 11 as people gathered at the Park on Pavilion Square (POPS) to remember the day America was attacked by terrorists.
Forest City Fire Rescue hosted the annual ceremony as the department has for the past 23 years.
The Rutherford County Firefighters Honor Guard presented the colors as the ceremony began.
"It is a time of remembrance to all who made the sacrifices," said Fire Chief Billy Samuel.
Nearly 3,000 people died September 11, 2001, of whom 343 were firefighters and more than 70 were police officers, in the attack on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pa.
Mayor Steve Holland said people will never forget where they were the day America was attacked, adding he was at his job with Duke Energy and said when his fellow employees received the news, everyone gathered in a conference room and with everyone holding hands, prayers were said.
Forest City Police Lt. Brad Huckabee and a former 31B/68W at US North Carolina National Guard addressed the approximately 100 people attending.
He said he was in the eighth grade at East Middle School when they received word of the attack. Huckabee always dreamed of being in the military and on that day, he knew he would do that. He wanted to be a fighter pilot in the Air Force, but later learned a medical issue would keep him from being a pilot in the Air Force.
"The desire to serve was still there. With the wars waging in Iraq and Afghanistan at their highest, I was filled with the calling to do my part for my country and to gain honor." At some point in his senior year of high school, he came to the conclusion that he was also going to become a law enforcement officer, in addition to serving in the military, said Huckabee.
He joined the US Army National Guard before graduating high school and later joined the Military Police Company and began his career in Forest City in 2008.
At one point in his career, he was ordered to Fort Bragg to learn how to be a Combat Medic, and later went to Iraq as a medic.
"The war was drawing to an end and the medics were told that transition to Operation New Dawn would occur while we were there. The fight, for the most part, was over," he said, as his work began there.
Huckabee said those who died on 911 would never see their loved ones again, yet, the ones that were called to come to the rescuers that day ran toward the destruction without thought of themselves.
"Often used to reference those who die, or are willing to die, in the service of others from the Bible is John 15:13 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.' I ask you, what is more honorable than that?" said Huckabee." Then to place all your personal interests aside, to run headstrong into danger pushing past any fears for your own safety, to save the lives of people you have never met and to put them and their loved ones before your own. To do what you can to make sure someone's father, mother, son, daughter, spouse, or loved one can return home to them, knowing it might mean you won't return to your own."
Huckabee said that cannot be taught or learned.
"Courage placed into an ordinary man or woman by God himself, to be his instrument. It is courage that we must never forget. Sacrifices that must never be forgotten and passed on to generations that did not live the events. What better way to live one's life, than to carry out the greatest form of love and to be a child of God. I know I will never forget those on 9/11 and that they met the highest of honors, that no medal can touch, that any person could only ever hope to achieve while carrying out their duties in service to others," Huckabee concluded.
The Ringing of the Bell concluded the service, showing the honor and respect to all firefighters who paid the ultimate respect.
Doug Jackson of the JROTC Marine Corp. concluded the memorial ceremony with a poem he penned, "Old Glory."
