SUSSEX COUNTY, Del.- Smoke filled the air, first responders rushed to the scene, and the country was immediately shocked that America was under attack.
Fast forward two decades later, and the tragic events of September 11, 2001 play back in the minds of many, including the Whitford family in Lewes who lost Mark at 31 years old. He was responding in the South tower.
His brother Christopher desperately searched for him when his Army Reserve unit was called to the scene and Mark’s number 23 fire truck was there but there was no sign of him.
"I had realized my brother had chauffeured that truck down to the scene," Christopher said. "I saw that there was debris. There was tremendous carnage all around it. There was the building. There was high beams all around it but the truck was still intact."
Christopher searched the day after as well, but couldn’t find his brother. The family was informed on April 5, 2002 that Mark’s remains were identified. That day would have been his 32nd birthday.
On Saturday, he was remembered along with the other FDNY members and other victims.
American Legion Post 28 and the Millsboro community wanted to honor each and every victim who died during and after the attacks by putting out bags with candles lit inside of them.
Beth McGinn of the Post 28 auxiliary was working on the 22nd floor of her building that morning in Philadelphia and her company had a scare of its own that day.
"I worked for a refinery and they kept saying an extra plane was going to hit the refinery so we were all a little nervous about that," McGinn said. "But it took me five hours to get home from Philadelphia to New Jersey."
At the ceremonies Saturday, there were people who saw what happened on scene or on TV and kids who weren’t even alive when it happened. But nonetheless, it is remembrances like these that allow everyone to never forget.