Bay Area commemorates 24 years since 9/11 terror attacks: 'Never forget and always remember'

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- It was a solemn morning across the Bay Area as victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks were remembered.

The San Francisco Fire Department held its remembrance ceremony at the Public Safety Building, marking 24 years since the attack.

Names of 343 firefighters and 8 EMS providers from FDNY were read aloud. In all, 2,977 people died during the attacks at the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania during al-Qaeda hijackings.

"Through understanding history, we become a safer city. And in doing that, we assure that we will never forget and always remember," said San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen, who helped with relief efforts in New York City after 9/11.

"We went without expectations," he said. "We were there to help in any way possible. We were asked by the members of the fire department in New York to help dig on the pile for their members that were lost. We also served as the honor guard for funerals, because their folks were either gone or still looking for their members, so everything we did was to really to try to honor the New York Fire Department and assist in any way possible."

RELATED: America marks 24 years since deadly 9/11 terror attacks

Elected officials including, Mayor Daniel Lurie, were at the ceremony. Lurie told ABC7 he was in New York during 9/11.

"It's an emotional day for our country," he said. "For me, personally, having been right there that day. And I saw the best of America that day. I saw the best of America in the days that followed."

The Oakland Fire Department hosted a ceremony in City Hall in honor of those who died on 9/11.

The San José Fire Department hosted its annual Firefighter Bell Ceremony in front of its fire Station 1 downtown, starting at the time of the first plane crash.

A podcast, featuring Crispen and his experiences after 9/11, will be available on the San Francisco Fire Department's social media accounts Thursday.