It has been 22 years since the terrorist attacks that saw hijackers take control of four planes on Sept. 11, 2001; an act that claimed thousands of lives and led to the War on Terror.

Over two decades later, Americans nationwide paid their respects on Monday, which was observed as Patriot Day.

On Monday morning, Sept. 11 folks gathered outside the historic Knights Ferry Fire House No. 2 – which also serves now as Oakdale Fire Protection District Station 29 – for a memorial ceremony. Those in attendance included several residents from Knights Ferry and surrounding areas, as well as students and staff from the nearby Knights Ferry Elementary School. Four crew members at the fire station hosted the event and performed a flag ceremony, as well as led the crowd in observing a moment of silence for those lost at that fateful day.

Sept. 11, 2001 saw the largest single day loss of life of first responders in U.S. history, as planes struck the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia with first responders rushing in to help.

A fourth hijacked plane did not reach its target; passengers on Flight 93 fought back against the hijackers and the plane crashed in a field in rural Pennsylvania.

The observance at the Knights Ferry fire station was one of several hosted by the Modesto Fire Department simultaneously throughout Stanislaus County. Other stations taking part were in Modesto, Riverbank, Ceres and Turlock.

Following the brief ceremony in Knights Ferry, firefighters took time to greet the public and share handshakes and conversation, with many of those in attendance thanking them for their continued service.