1 of 6

Natchez Fire Department Chief Robert Arrington and firefighters begin their walk toward the Natchez Bluff in memory of the 21st anniversary of 9/11. (Jan Griffey | The Natchez Democrat)

Natchez firefighters, escorted by Adams County Sheriff's deputies and Natchez Police officers, make their way down Main Street toward the bluff for a tribute Sunday morning to firefighters and first responders who lost their lives on 9/11, 21 years ago today (Jan Griffey | The Natchez Democrat)

One-year-old Aurora Gillespie walks toward firefighters during a prayer Sunday morning. She is the daughter of a Natchez firefighter. (Jan Griffey | The Natchez Democrat)

Natchez Fire Chief Robert Arrington speaks to firefighters, first responders, and their families gathered Sunday morning at the bandstand on the bluff for a tribute to victims of 9/11 (Jan Griffey | The Natchez Democrat)

Aurora Gillespie, daughter of a Natchez firefighter, wears her patriotic best Sunday morning for Natchez firefighters' tribute to the victims of 9/11 (Jan Griffey | The Natchez Democrat)

Briar Emfinger, who is 7 months old, is the son of a Natchez firefighter. He was at the bandstand on the bluff Sunday for the Natchez firefighters' tribute to the victims of 9/11 (Jan Griffey | The Natchez Democrat)

NATCHEZ — On Sunday morning, beginning at Fire Station 1 at the corner of Main and Martin Luther King Jr. streets, firefighters from the Natchez Fire Department and the Adams County Volunteer Fire Department began their solemn walk to the Natchez bluff, a tribute to firefighters and other first responders who lost their lives 21 years ago.

On Sept. 11, 2001, the world changed forever, when terrorists flew jet airplanes into the Twin Towers in New York, as well as crashed a plane into the Pentagon. Another plane, United Airlines Flight 93, thought to be headed for the White House, crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, when passengers overtook terrorist hijackers onboard.

Firefighters and first responders from all over the country and world traveled to New York City to aid in the recovery effort there.

Adams County Sheriff’s Office deputies and officers from the Natchez Police Department escorted the firefighters Sunday morning on their walk to the river.

Once on the bluff, firefighters gathered in a semi-circle near the bandstand. Natchez Fire Chief Robert Arrington spoke about the sacrifices of those brave men and women who lost their lives 21 years ago, and thanked Natchez firefighters and other Natchez first responders.

“Everyone of these men and women are heroes in my book. They put their lives on the line every single day,” Arrington said.

He thanked his firefighters for putting the tribute together, saying it was their idea and their work to make it happen.

More News

Natchez native Ollie Reed Jr. dies at 76 after a half-century of journalism excellence

Daisy Street shooting victim said he does not know who shot him

Mayor re-dedicates City Hall on its 100th birthday

Operation Safe Neighborhoods: Suspect arrested, charged with Daisy Street attempted murder