
The Prairie Township Fire Department held a memorial ceremony on Sept. 11 to honor the lives of the 2,977 people who were killed in the terror attacks that occurred on that day 20 years prior. Firefighter Jack Ellis performed the ringing of the bells during the ceremony, which symbolizes the death of a firefighter. More than 300 first responders died as a result of the attacks and thousands continue to deal with health issues related to their exposure to the toxins released by the collapse of the World Trade Towers and fires that followed.