Shreveport Firefighters Pause for Reflection, Remembering 9-11

Shreveport firefighters at each station all over the city remembered the first responders who lost their lives when hijacked jets crashed into the World Trade Center.

Firefighters stood in front of their fire and rescue trucks with lights flashing in a moment of silence that began at 8:59 this morning.

Shreveport is one of many communities all across America today taking time out to remember our heroes. The loss of life among the ranks of firefighters, police, and other first responders was into the hundreds.

The heroes from Central Station downtown parked their fire trucks and rescue vehicles outside the station and observed a moment of silence for those who died saving lives on that fateful day.

One of those who stood at attention was Capt. Dewayne Tasby. "For the lives that were lost on 9-11. I mean we're just gonna be standing to honor those guys who lost their lives," Tasby told me before the observance.

Tasby, along with Battalion Chief Kerry Foster, Assistant Chief Randy Beason and several other firefighters took part in the remembrance.

Foster said even though hundreds of firefighters and police officers were killed when the Trade Center Towers collapsed, there were many wonderful stories of lives that were saved.

The majority of the people were lost during the collapse, but what we need to keep in mind is the efforts and the heroic efforts of everybody, not only firefighters, but other people. There were thousands and thousands of lives that were saved, due to those efforts.

Flags at each fire station were flown at half staff today, as were flags at all state buildings.

Beason said even though the tragedy is something everyone hates, his firefighters were all honored to take part in the observance of heroes who made a difference that day.

There were close to 350 New York City firefighters alone who were killed on 9-11, but that number doesn't take into account the Port Authority police and others.

The tragic moment defined our country as one brought together as a family willing to fight for our freedom in order to keep it. The terrorist acts,  while horrific,  also served as a catalyst to bring ordinary Americans to the forefront as true patriots.