Communities across Stanislaus County joined the rest of the nation and much of the world Friday morning to commemorate the lives lost and the heroism shown in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Local observances led by fire and law enforcement personnel began at 8:46 a.m., the time on Sept. 11, 2001, when hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City.
At simultaneous Patriot Day remembrances in Modesto, Ceres, Riverbank, Oakdale and Turlock, a message from the Modesto Fire Department communications center was broadcast, calling for one minute of silence to honor the lives lost that day. An honor guard composed of Modesto fire and police personnel raised the U.S. flag and then lowered it to half staff…