United States Exercise Tiger Foundation remembers 9/11 Monday
Watch a replay of the ceremony in the player.
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Monday marked 22 years since the terror attack on the World Trade Center and Pentagon that claimed the lives of thousands of people.
The United States Exercise Tiger Foundation held a ceremony and wreath tribute in order to honor those who were killed in the attack. The ceremony consisted of a series of bells ringing out to honor the moment the planes hit the towers.
The first bell rang at 7:46 a.m.--followed by a second at 8:03 a.m. -- and another at 8:37 a.m. to signify when the pentagon was attacked.
Chiefs from the Boone County Fire Protection District, Southern Boone County Fire Protection District and Columbia Fire Department chiefs were all in attendance. Boone County commissioners Kip Kendrick, Justin Aldred and Janet Thompson also attended the ceremony.
Assistant Chief for the Boone County Fire Protection District, Chuck Leake was deployed to New York to help with the aftermath as a member of Missouri Task Force one.
"We got the call at about noon and we were ready and packed up to go," Leake said. "It wasn't about us, it wasn't about any individual. It's about this nation and what it needed."
Two five foot wreaths, as well as smaller wreaths were placed along the memorial wall.
A 40 inch "Fallen Warrior" monument was also on display to remember troops that fought in Afghanistan following the tragedy.
Leake told ABC 17 News he believes holding these ceremonies every year is extremely crucial, and that the biggest heroes that day weren't first responders.
"The bravery of the citizens on flight 93," Leake said. "They weren't army rangers, they weren't marines, they weren't navy seals... they were doctors, lawyers, teachers and students and construction workers who probably when they got on the plane didn't give each other the time of day. But when they saw that they were gonna be used as a weapon against other American citizens, they stepped up and said no."
