By Lookout Staff

September 9, 2024 -- The Santa Monica Fire Department will conduct "a brief and solemn ceremony" on Wednesday, September 11, to honor the 2,977 people, including two Santa Monicans, who died during the terrorist attacks that day.

The National Day of Service and Remembrance also honors "the bravery of first responders and the resilience of communities across the country," Fire Department officials said.

The day "serves as a powerful reminder of our shared humanity and the strength we find in coming together as a community," officials said.

"As we remember the events of Sept. 11, let us also honor the enduring spirit of service and commitment that emerged from that day."

The ceremony will be held at three Santa Monica Fire Stations at 6:45 a.m. -- Station 1, 1337 7th Street; Station 2, 222 Hollister Avenue, and Station 3, 1302 19th Street.

That was the time on Septemeber 11, 2001 on the West Coast that American Airlines Flight 11 slammed into the north tower of the World Trade Center, marking the first of four coordinated terrorist suicide attacks carried out by al-Qaeda.

Carolyn Beug, 48, a filmmaker and writer who devoted herself to Samohi's track team, was on American Airlines Flight 11, the first of two planes that crashed into the Twin Towers.

Santa Monica resident Dora Menchaca, 45, a medical researcher, was on American Airlines Flight 77, which crashed into the Pentagon. Another plane crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania during an attempt by the passengers and crew to regain control.

Santa Monica's retired Fire Chief Jim Hone -- who was then fire marshal -- was a member of one of three California urban search and rescue teams.

An artifact from the Ground Zero site resides in Fire Station 1 (, just outside the Santa Monica Fire Department’s community room and is open for viewing by the public during normal business hours.

For more information, visit santamonica.gov/events/9-11-remembrance-ceremony.