All over the country people are remembering the tragedy that unfolded on this day twelve years ago as terrorists who had hijacked planes struck the World Trade Center towers in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. -- a fourth plane crashed in a Pennsylvania field.
Each year San Antonio firefighters, along with civilians, climb San Antonio's 750-foot Tower of the Americas to remember the events of 9/11/2001.
Mike Davis, a firefighter, remembered where he was on this day. He'd been stationed in Alaska and arrived at work early in the morning to hear the news coverage.
Davis said it's part of the country's story now, but people should keep the memory alive as the years pass by.
"We will never forget. For those of us," he said. "It impacted everybody. It doesn’t matter who you were -- down to babies. They’re going to grow up knowing what happened. This isn’t something that’s going to go away."
District 7 Councilman Cris Medina, a first lieutenant in the Air Force Reserves, made the tower climb today. Medina joined the military following the attack because he wanted to help protect and defend his country during a devastating time.
With the divisive fight at city hall on the issue of the city's non-discrimination ordinance, he believes the day should put all the arguments into perspective.
"To take time, to pause, during our busy lives that we all lead," he said. "To take a moment and remember the victims of 9/11. I think this was a fitting tribute to that."
Medina said history can't be erased, but the country can be prepared for the future.
