As the nation prepares to mark the 23rd anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, the Las Cruces Fire Department (LCFD) has announced its plans to honor the memory of those lost on that tragic day. An official commemoration is scheduled, featuring the raising of the Garrison Flag and the solemn tradition of a bell-ringing ceremony.

According to the City of Las Cruces, the ceremonies are set to commence early on Wednesday morning at Fire Station 1, with firefighters beginning their silent vigil at 7:30 a.m. The heart of the event unfolds beginning at 8:46 a.m. when the bell will toll for the first time to mark the moment American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center on 9/11. A series of bell tollings will follow, each synchronized with the timeline of the attacks, from the second plane's impact on the South Tower to the crash at the Pentagon, the fall of the towers, and the moment United Flight 93 went down in Pennsylvania.

For those in the community wishing to join in reflection, the LCFD extends an open invitation and encourages attendance at Fire Station 1, or from the vantage point of Albert Johnson Park, directly across Picacho Avenue.

The act of remembrance and reverence displayed by the LCFD is a profound gesture for a city and nation still grappling with the legacies of 9/11. The ceremony not only honors those who perished but also serves as a tribute to the resilience of a country that has endured much in the twenty-three years since the world seemingly stood still. Members of the public are welcome and encouraged to be a part of this somber occasion as the community comes together in a shared moment of history and heartache.