Military veterans, first responders, government officials and community members gathered Thursday morning outside Vancouver City Hall to memorialize the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The annual Patriot Day Salute event, presented by the city of Vancouver and Community Military Appreciation Committee, remembered the 2,977 lives lost on 9/11 and honored active military members, veterans and first responders .

Retired Army Col. Larry Smith, a former Vancouver City Council member, cofounded the local military appreciation group in 2010.

“The one thing we wanted to do in the CMAC organization is recognize significant events. That’s so important. But learning from our history is important as well, and this is an event we should not forget,” Smith told the crow

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