On 25th anniversary, first responders and veterans will remember 9/11 in ceremonies across area

On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, the Modesto-area fire departments will remember and honor those affected by the attacks.

Free and public ceremonies will occur simultaneously in Modesto, Riverbank, Oakdale and Turlock. They will begin at 8:46 a.m., when Flight 11 crashed into the World Trade Center's North Tower. Attendees are encouraged to arrive by 8:30 a.m.

Modesto Fire Deputy Fire Chief Darin Jesberg said the ceremonies will be the same as previous years. Each city will have a flag ceremony and identical speech from a chief officer.

Some ceremonies, including the one in Modesto, will have an honor guard presentation from the police and fire departments. Jesberg said the Modesto Fire Department wants each city to receive a similar ceremony.

"Because of the way that we're configured, having multiple locations and contracts and communities that we serve, we felt it very important to have the same level of service and treatment for each community," Jesberg said.

In coordination with the Fire Department, American Legion Post 491 in Ceres will host an event at 8:30 a.m. in Whitmore Park. The Patriots' Day Memorial Service will feature a nondenominational prayer, a statement from the commander of the Ceres Veterans of Foreign Wars and an honor guard rifle salute and taps. A final bell will ring for the lost and missing in the events of 9/11.

Jesberg said he expects 30 to 40 people, including city staff, to attend the Modesto ceremony. Around 10 to 15 people have attended previous ceremonies in Oakdale and Riverbank, he said.

"This year is another, unfortunately, solemn celebration of what happened 25 years ago," Jesberg said. "I think it's very important once again to not forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice."

Ceremony locations:

• Modesto: Station 1, 60 11th St.

• Ceres: Whitmore Park, North and Second streets

• Riverbank: Station 26, 3318 Topeka St.

• Oakdale: Station 28, 325 E. G St.

• Turlock: Station 31, 540 E. Marshall St.

In addition to the Fire Department's ceremony, the Modesto fire and police departments will attend the First Responders Day football game at Modesto Junior College. The game versus Diablo Valley College starts at 5 p.m.

The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office did not respond to an inquiry before publication.