City of North Van firefighters gathered Thursday morning to remember the 343 firefighters who lost their lives seven years ago following the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York.
The local department gathered around the flag and stood silently as they reflected on the sacrifice made by their fellow firefighters. Several local firefighters travelled to New York in 2001, including Dan Hilton.
"It was surreal to see ground zero," said Hilton who went to New York to deliver money donated by North Shore residents to a fire hall in Lower Manhattan. "They welcomed us with open arms; they were really supportive of other departments coming down."
While there Hilton attended a memorial service for one of the firefighters. He's still in regular contact with the best friend of the firefighter who died.
"People did lose their lives that day: firefighters, police officers, citizens and Canadians," said Hilton. "We don't want to forget them or those people who came forward and helped out."