A reflective silence fell over Main Plaza early Friday morning as the members of the New Braunfels Fire Department and New Braunfels Police Department Honor Guard marched from the downtown Central Fire Station to the plaza for a memorial ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11.

Attendees heard speakers reflect on and honor the selfless bravery of the first responders who answered the call that day, the resilience and unity that emerged amid the nation in the following days and the first responders who carry that same sense of courage amid fear forward today.

Division Chief Tyler Hindman with NBFD opened the memorial ceremony by recognizing Sept. 11, 2001, as a day that forever changed our nation and left an undeniable mark on our hearts.