For Coeur d'Alene Fire Chief John Fugitt, 9/11 isn't just a day of remembrance. It's a day of reflection.

"Twenty-five years ago, was my first day as a firefighter," he said. "It means a lot to me." 

Fugitt stood with his fellow firemen as the honor guard attached the flag and raised it to half-mast at the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department's Remembrance Ceremony at the Fallen Heroes Plaza at Cherry Hill on Friday. 

Fugitt remembers the tragedy as a day of emotions. He said he contemplates how "that day changed the fire service." Fugitt said he hopes people spend the day remembering anything that strikes them about those days so "we move forward as a nation." 

Coeur d'Alene Fire Department Fire Marshall Craig Etherton, Capt. Matt Tosi and Engineer Josh Hoston, alongside the Coeur d'Alene Police Department Sgt. Jared Reneau, Lt. Nick Knoll, Detective Caleb Hutchison and Detective Jake Brazle took part in the honor guard. 

"It's an honor to do it, for the family, so that they can see their loved ones are not forgotten," Knoll said. 

He said he will spend the day remembering the sacrifices made on Sept. 11, 2001. 

"Just remembering from both sides," he said. "All of the first responders that were killed going to help people that are in trouble." 

Mike and Tina Sanchez attended the ceremony and said it was "solemn" and "quiet." They said they liked seeing the over 70 attendees show up to honor the fallen. 

To the Sanchezes, remembrance means taking in their entire experience of that day, like where they were and how they felt. They said that reflection "brings it back a little bit" but that it was comforting to see others at the ceremony. 

Christian Timpani, one of the co-directors for the North Idaho chapter of Tunnel to Towers Foundation, said he watched as the second plane made impact with the second tower. 

"I knew at that moment, everything would change," he said. 

Timpani said it "breaks his heart" to know there are many people who can't or won't remember it but said it "means a lot" to see people come out to the ceremony. 

Etherton shared a story that he felt spoke to "the spirit of the fire service."

"If you listen to the radio traffic of the fellow fighters, like, they got there and they were like, 'Yeah, we got this,'" he said. 

He said there was "never a doubt in any of their minds" that they could respond and handle it. He said even after the second impact and the collapse of both towers, firefighters from across the country streamed into Manhattan, offering help. He said they were stuck in parts of the city, stuck on bridges and they ran to the towers "to go help their brothers." 

"That's what I try to remember for them, right? They ran straight toward it," he said. "I think that's the part that I want people remembering."

Coeur d'Alene Police Detective Jake Brazle, Coeur d'Alene Fire Engineer Josh Hoston and Detective Caleb Hutchison march to the base of the flagpole during the ceremony at the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department's Remembrance Ceremony at the Fallen Heroes Plaza at Cherry Hill on Friday.

Coeur d'Alene Fire Department Captain Jeff Fletcher, alongside his fellow firefighters, stands in reflection at the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department's Remembrance Ceremony at the Fallen Heroes Plaza at Cherry Hill on Friday.