Firefighters memorialize 9/11, lost lives

Firefighter Michael Ortiz salutes as the "555" alarm sounds for firefighers lost in the line of duty during a ceremony Saturday at Station 11 near Firefighters Memorial Park to commemorate 9/11. (Mark Lambie/El Paso Times)

The gentle playing of "Taps" brought tears to a somber group gathered at the Firefighters Memorial Park Saturday.

In remembrance the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, members of the El Paso Fire and Police departments gathered at the park, 310 S. Leon Street. A statue of a firefighter was placed near a stone memorial, which had the names of 16 local firefighters who had lost their lives in the line of duty.

"Throughout our history certain events become seared into our memories," Fire Chief Otto Drozd said. "But we shall never forget the courage and the commitment of those firefighters and policemen who rushed into those buildings to save the lives of the innocent knowing that they would have to give up theirs."