Upper Perkiomen community members came together Sunday to mark the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and pay tribute to the first responders and civilians who died that fateful day.

                The Sons of the American Legion Post 184's 9/11 tribute titled, "We Still Remember," began Sunday morning with local firefighters and members of the Sons of the American Legion placing wreaths and firefighting gear at the post's 9/11 monument in memory of FDNY firefighters. The service was held in front of the memorial, which includes a piece of steel from the World Trade Center destroyed in the attack.  The American Legion Post 184 dedicated the memorial monument in 2010.

                "The twisted steel bares the horror to the terror of 9/11," said Carey Anderson, commander of the local American Legion post.

                Wreaths were laid on the memorial to mark the timing of the six significant events that unfolded that day. In his invocation, Pastor Tyson Frey asked the audience to remember the brave men and women who gave their lives during the incident.

                 As recalled during the ceremony, on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, 19 terrorists from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Lebanon hijacked four commercial planes.

                Two of the planes were flown into the World Trade Center towers in Lower Manhattan in New York City. A third plane was crashed into the Pentagon, outside Washington, D.C., and a fourth plane crashed in a field in western Pennsylvania.

                More than 3,000 people were killed during the attacks, including more than 400 police officers and firefighters.

                The first wreath, placed on the memorial at 8:46 a.m., represented American Airlines Flight 11 crashing into the north tower of the World Trade Center. At 9:03 a.m., a wreath representing United Airlines Flight 175 crashing into the south tower was placed. At 9:37 a.m., the Sons commemorated American Airlines Flight 77 crashing into the Pentagon. At 9:59 a.m., they remembered the collapse of the south tower. Ten minutes later, they noted the crashing of United Airlines Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pa. The final wreath was laid at 10:28 a.m. to commemorate the collapse of the north tower.

                Several dignitaries commented on the bravery of police and firefighters in New York City on that Tuesday morning. They also thanked the local firefighters in attendance for their service to the community.

                Later in the day, a procession including local firefighters and the American Legion Riders traveled from Red Hill, through Pennsburg and East Greenville, to Post 184 in Upper Hanover.

                Several speakers at the post, including state Sen. Bob Mensch (R-24), state Rep. Justin Simmons (R-131), Pennsburg Mayor Vicki Lightcap and East Greenville Mayor Ryan Sloyer, lauded the first responders' courage that day.

                Simmons described them as common working men and women.

                "We draw spirit from their valor and unwavering commitment to duty," he said during the ceremony. "Sept. 11, 2001 is a day that will never be forgotten."

                According to Sloyer, the first responders who ran into the burning towers are part of a special breed with protective instincts.

                "Not everyone can or will run toward the chaos," he said. "The natural instinct is to flee danger. These are men and women who also run toward the chaos at the very risk of their lives."

                According to Mensch, the attack nearly led to an economic catastrophe. He said most people don't realize that the incident nearly destroyed the domestic and international economies.

                "No one believed we would ever have a terroristic attack of that scale on our soil," said Mensch, who was in Pittsburgh on business the morning of the attack.

                Mike Witkowski, the 30th District Commander with the Sons of the American Legion, read aloud a presidential proclamation declaring Sept. 11, 2016 as Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance.