Community leaders gather in downtown Lexington to remember 9/11 victims

Lexington leaders on Wednesday encouraged people to never forget the sacrifices and unity displayed during the 9/11 attacks, which happened 23 years ago.

A remembrance and wreath ceremony was held at the Fallen Firefighters Monument in Phoenix Park in downtown Lexington Wednesday morning to honor the anniversary. Dozens of firefighters, police officers and local officials were in attendance for the ceremony.

“I’m so very proud of our community, our public safety partners and just our city as a whole for continuing to remember the sacrifice of so many on that day,” Lexington Fire Chief Jason Wells said during the ceremony.

The attacks claimed the lives of 2,977 people , according to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. It was the single largest loss of life on American soil resulting from a foreign attack.

Wells highlighted the number of firefighters that died that day — 343. Wells also said an additional 370 firefighters have died from 9/11 related illnesses as of Tuesday.

More than 400,000 people were exposed to toxins from the poor air quality after the attacks, according to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. More than 2,000 of those exposed have died.

While the memory of those who have died is at the forefront of remembrance ceremonies in Lexington and across the country, Wells also encouraged people to remember what happened on Sept. 12 and the days afterwards.

“That was a day when our country woke up with a unity and resolve that my generation has not seen before,” Wells said. “While we hold in our memory the courage and sacrifice of September 11, let us also not forget the unity and resolve of September 12.”

Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers encouraged people to never forget the sacrifices made on 9/11.

“The sacrifices made on 9/11 showed up what true unity is, what being an American truly is,” Weathers said. “Always remember that this is the land of the free and the home of the brave.”