Why church bells will be ringing at 9:59 a.m. Friday

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The ringing of church bells, and bells from other houses of worship and municipal buildings taking place Friday at 9:59 a.m., and again at 10:28 a.m. will be music to Erie County Legislator Lindsay Lorigo's ears.

And also to Niagara County Legislator Rich Andres.

Both Lorigo and Andres have asked all Erie and Niagara county churches, houses of worship or municipal buildings to ring their bells twice Friday morning in memory of when the twin towers of the World Trade Center collapsed on Sept. 11, 2001 as a result of terrorist attacks in New York City. Terrorists also hijacked planes that crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and also a field in Shanksville, Pa.

"We should never forget all the lives that were lost," Lorigo said.

Friday marks 25 years since the Sept. 11 attacks, and ceremonies are scheduled across the region and country.

"Everyone should take time to remember," Lorigo said.

Although she was just 4-years-old on Sept. 11, 2001, Lorigo says she has vivid memories of her grandmother picking her up at pre-school and being very upset.

Andres, a history teacher, says he has students who weren't born when the attacks took place.

The South Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed at 9:59 a.m., some 56 minutes after United Flight 175 hit the building. The North Tower of the World Trade Center then collapsed at 10:28 a.m., some one hour and 42 minutes after terrorist flew American Airlines Flight 11 into the building.

The Pentagon was struck at 9:37 a,m., and passengers fought terrorists on United Flight 93 and crashed in Shanksville, Pa. at 10:03 a.m.

In all, 2,977 people, plus all 19 hijackers died in the attacks, including 2,753 people in the twin towers and 184 at the Pentagon.

Also killed were 441 first responders, including 343 firefighters when the towers collapsed.

"It is so incredibly important to remember our history and what happened that day," Lorigo said.