Pete Oakes of the Plains Volunteer Fire Department sets the U.S. flag at half-staff in honor of those Americans lost in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack of New York City, the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania. Chief Anthony Young (back) and Oakes first switched a year-old American flag with a new one before taking it to half-staff.

Last Wednesday marked the 18th anniversary of the attack that left 2,977 American dead, which included nearly 350 firefighters who died in the New York City attack after two hijacked jet planes struck the World Trade Center. Terrorists also hit the Pentagon, resulting in more than 100 deaths. Additional terrorists hijacked a jet airliner, but failed to hit their target when passengers overwhelmed them, crashing the plane into a Pennsylvania field.

"I definitely believe that was something we should never forget," said Young, who has been the department chief for three years and a firefighter since 2014. Oakes has been with the department for a year.