It has been 24 years since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, a day that left a lasting mark on the United States and the world. Across the Lowcountry, service members, first responders, and community members gathered to honor the nearly 3,000 lives lost and the countless heroes who risked everything.
Coast Guard Leads Tribute at Charleston RiverDogs Stadium
At Charleston RiverDogs Stadium on Thursday morning, United States Coast Guard Charleston Sector officers carried the American flag across the field as the national anthem played. The moment was a solemn reminder of the unity and sacrifice shown in the face of tragedy.
Personal Reflections of 9/11
For many, the memory of 9/11 is vivid. Captain Colt Roy of Joint Base Charleston Fire and Emergency Services recalled being in high school when he first learned of the Twin Towers’ collapse.
“Everybody was hurrying down, while firefighters were hurrying up. They didn’t know if the towers were going to collapse or not. Many of those men did not make it out,” Roy said.
Remembering the Sacrifices
Technical Sergeant Jason H. Parker and Wing Commander of Joint Base Charleston urged the public to never forget the sacrifices of firefighters, police officers, and paramedics who ran toward danger that day.
In all, 412 members of the New York City Fire Department died trying to save others—a figure honored at multiple memorial events in Charleston.
Events Across the Lowcountry
Memorial Stair Climbs were held by the U.S. Coast Guard Charleston Sector, Joint Base Charleston, and Charleston Southern University, where participants climbed the symbolic 110 stories of the World Trade Center.
Patriots Point hosted its 12th annual Silent Walk across the Ravenel Bridge, with each step taken in memory of the victims.
Honoring Survivors Who Later Passed Away
The tributes also extended to first responders who survived the attacks but later succumbed to health issues caused by exposure at Ground Zero.
Captain Roy noted that his friend and mentor, Stephen Skipton Sr., was among those later lost to 9/11-related illness.
“We are losing first responders from 9/11. Three hundred forty-three members of the FDNY, but that doesn’t count all of the people who have died of 9/11 diseases,” Roy said.
Carrying the Legacy Forward
For Charleston’s service members and first responders, the promise is clear: to keep the stories alive and continue honoring those who showed courage in the darkest hours.
As Commander Parker shared:
“To remember the lives lost and the sacrifices that were made, and the tremendous resiliency that makes us who we are today.”
Two decades later, the Lowcountry continues to stand in remembrance of 9/11—through walks, climbs, and personal reflections. These events ensure that the sacrifices of first responders, victims, and survivors are never forgotten. Their courage lives on, carried forward by every step, every climb, and every story retold.
