At 10:05 a.m. on Wednesday, crew members of Cobb Fire Station 21 in East Cobb turned on their sirens.
It was at that precise moment 23 years ago that the South Tower at the World Trade Center collapsed.
Twenty-three minutes later, at 10:28, the sirens went off again, signifying the time the North Tower fell.
Before that, crews honored the memory of those on four planes that crashed that day with a moment of silence.
The commemorations that took place at Station 21, located at the East Cobb Government Service on Lower Roswell Road, also were held simultaneously at other Cobb fire stations on Wednesday.
A total of 343 members of the New York Fire Department lost their lives in the Sept. 11 attacks, after hijacked commercial airliners struck the World Trade Center.
Fire departments across America have held special observances since then.
Across the street from Station 21, students from Mt. Bethel Christian Academy watched as the sirens blared, with the front facade of Mt. Bethel Church by a massive American flag.
Fire crews stopped traffic on Lower Roswell for the students to cross, and then took them on a tour of Station 21.
At the Georgia State Capitol, Gov. Brian Kemp led a special ceremony featuring music and the appearance of first responders (you can watch a replay by clicking here).
“Twenty-three years ago today, in a moment that changed the very course of history, we were painfully reminded that freedom is not free,” Kemp said, “and that the principles we hold dear, and that make America the last best hope for the world, also make us a target for those with evil intentions.
“But in the face of that horror, and the terrorism our enemies hoped would break us, we all observed the unique spirit of patriotism, of strength and of courage that we must continue to drive us forward for this day.”
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