On Sept. 11, 2001, the United States of America changed forever.

Nineteen terrorists hijacked four passenger planes, intentionally crashing two of the commercial airliners into the World Trade Center in New York, the third struck the Pentagon in Virginia and the fourth plane missed its target due to quick action by civilian passengers. It ultimately crashed in a rural field in Shanksville, Penn.

Almost 3,000 people died as a result of the attacks.

“All that 19 people did that day was re-awaken the American spirit,” said Sean Merrill, Battalion Chief, at a remembrance ceremony held Friday morning at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. “Here on base we are fortunate to see that every day.”

Navy Chaplain Lt. Peter Ott called the 9/11 attack a “day of darkness when evil shook this very earth,” during a morning prayer at the gathering.

But, he added, Sept. 11 also had a positive affect. It caused the nation to come together and reinvigorated a sense of national pride.

Master of ceremonies Chris Hiteshew of Navy Region Northwest explained the tolling of the bell: Five dashes, pause, five more dashes, pause, and five final dashes. The tradition took hold long before telephones and radios, when fire departments relied on the telegraph to communicate, he said.

“When a firefighter died in the line of duty, the fire alarm would tap out a special signal,” he said of the time-honored tradition. Firefighters were hailed as heroes as they responded to ground zero in New York City.

Captain Jason Hebb performed the tolling of the bell, followed by one minute of silence and a reading of the Firefighter’s Prayer by fireman James Burks.

Approximately 150 people attended the ceremony including North Whidbey Fire and Rescue firefighters, Navy Region Northwest Fire and Emergency and Navy personnel.

The event coincided with morning colors in front of the NAS Whidbey Island command building (385).