South Carolina firefighters, law enforcement officers and community members to attend the “Silent Walk” to honor lives lost in terror attacks 20 years ago

South Carolina – 20 years have passed since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington where nearly 3,000 people lost their lives. Targets of the attacks were the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington.

To honor the victims in the attack, a 9/11 Silent Walk will take place downtown Charleston where hundreds of South Carolina firefighters, law enforcement officers and community members will walk Saturday morning.

The walk is organized to mark the 20 years since the attacks.

The walk will begin in downtown Charleston, take participants across the Ravenel Bridge, and end at Patriots Point where a ceremony will take place aboard the USS Yorktown.

That tragic day will always remain in the memory of president of the Firefighters Association of South Carolina William J. Pesature, who was a firefighter for the New York Fire Department when the World Trade Center towers fell.

“This is a way of always remembering. I mean, we never forget,” he says. “You can reflect about what happened. Forget why, but what happened. What are these guys willing to do tomorrow or that day when they go to work? They’re all willing to do the same thing. Call comes out, respond to the call.”

He says that he often remembers that tragical day, a memory that will probably last forever.

As a special tribute on the 20th year, law enforcement and fire officials will walk in their dress uniforms instead of their gear.

Registration for the event began at 6 a.m. Saturday at Patriots Point, where buses will then shuttle walkers to the starting point downtown. The last bus left Patriots Point at 8 a.m.

Participants are asked to park in the grass fields adjacent to the USS Yorktown. Parking will be $5.

The walk will start at East Bay Street & Grace Bridge Street.

The remembrance ceremony aboard the USS Yorktown begins at 11:30 a.m. on the flight deck, but seating will be limited to 300 seats.