Under sunny blue skies reminiscent of another Sept. 11 morning, Rapid City firefighter Tyler King lowered an American flag Friday to mark the eighth anniversary of the terrorist attack that destroyed the World Trade Center and killed 343 of his fellow firefighters.

About 30 on-duty firefighters at Rapid City Fire Department's headquarters gathered around the flag at the main station, which was already flying at half staff in honor of Patriot Day. For the first time since the 9/11 attacks, Sept. 11 has been officially designated by Congress as a National Day of Service and Remembrance - Patriot Day. Americans are asked to commemorate the sacrifice of those who died that day by committing to community service in the coming year.

As a bell tolled, King and his fellow firefighters saluted the memory of the 343 New York firefighters who were among the 2,819 victims of the 2001 attacks.

The Revs. Bruce Thalacker and Dan Juelfs, who serve as volunteer chaplains for the RCFD, offered scripture and prayer during a short ceremony that included one minute of silence for all 9/11 victims.

Thalacker read from Isaiah 61 about the spirit of the Lord sent to heal the broken-hearted, to comfort all who mourn and to rebuild cities that have been laid waste by ruin and devastation. Juelfs prayed for "all our brothers and sisters who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001" and asked that God console their families and friends and "give us all faith to see in death the gate of new life."

Fire Chief Mark Rohlfing asked for prayers for firefighters everywhere who risk or lose their lives in the line of duty. He thanked the men and women of the Rapid City Fire Department and firefighters throughout Pennington County who "come to work every day and get on their trucks and do their duty."

In a reminder that life and duty go on, calls for emergency response came into the main fire station while the sound of taps carried on a stiff morning breeze, drifting over the assembled firefighters as the short ceremony came to a close.

Contact Mary Garrigan at 394-8424 or mary.garrigan@rapidcityjournal.com