SURF CITY, N.C. — While many around the country marked the 21st anniversary of the 9/11 attacks by climbing stairs to honor the firefighters who went into the World Trade Center buildings to rescue survivors, in Surf City, the day was observed with a walk over the bridge to the mainland.

“We don’t have any high-rises that are above four floors to do like a stair climb or anything, so the next best bet was to walk our new bridge here in Surf City," said Timothy VanPelt, who came up with the 9/11 Memorial Bridge Walk in 2020.

"So that’s why we did it, to honor those and remember those who lost their life that day.”   

John Fox is a retired New York firefighter. He was in New York City the day the twin towers were hit and vividly remembers the uncertainty in the moments after the plane crashes. 

“You know something's not right, something's not good. You get down to Ground Zero and you're doing what you possibly can because you know all your brothers are there,” Fox said. 

Fox was at home when news broke that the World Trade Center was hit. 

“A plane hit the first building and of course I — you really don’t know what to believe, what’s going on, and all you’re thinking about is what’s going on and then you hear about the second plane hitting, and then everybody just drove into Manhattan whether you were on duty or off duty, you were getting to your firehouse,” Fox said. 

When he learned what was going on, he was filled with intense emotions.

“Honestly, I had anger, lots of anger,” Fox said. 

Like many other firefighters and emergency workers, Fox took part in the 9/11 Memorial Bridge Walk on Sunday. He did it in uniform to pay tribute to the men and women who lost their lives trying to rescue people in the buildings. 

Fox reminds people to never forget.

“Never forget what the brothers did on that day and what we’ll always do. Like I said, we run in while people run out,” he said.

Through events like this we remember the 2,977 lives lost and the millions of lives affected by the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.