The city of Oxford joined the nation in remembering the tragic events of September 11, 2001, and those who perished both in innocence and in service.

Oxford’s annual 9/11 remembrance service, led by the Oxford Fire Department, was held on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Liberty Park on the grounds of the Oxford Civic Center.

Fire Chief Ben Stewart called the occasion “a new day as we start to see a whole new generation in the workforce that was not even born on that day.”

He gave the numbers that painfully record the size of the sacrifices made that day, with many still in the shadows of what that day caused.

“Since 2001, a total of 1,334 fire department members exposed to the 9/11 site have died,” Stewart said. “Thirty-six names were added to the memorial wall just this month. As of the first day of this month, 14,078 providers are enrolled in the World Trade Center health program. Of those, 10,562 have certified health conditions and can be certified with more than one condition.”

Graphic boards with photos were displayed to Stewart’s right, outlining the timeline and destruction that had occurred during only a few hours.

“These are a memory of what happened,” Stewart said. “Not only for us to remember, but for us to educate firemen. Educate police officers. Educate medics. This is what happened. This is why it’s important to us.”

“Prior to September 11, the term ‘first responders’ wasn’t really in the psyche of the American public,” said Oxford Health Care Authority CEO Tom Dixon. “That day certainly changed this country in a way it will never be the same, particularly for public safety and public service. It has caused us to rethink how police officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, dispatchers, emergency managers, hospital workers, and doctors all coordinate and work together. It has hopefully greatly strengthened our preparation for disasters and mass casualty events.”

Police Chief Daniel Phipps noted the 441 first responders killed in those initial New York attacks were “just doing what they were trained to do.”

“Instead of running away from danger, they ran toward it,’ Phipps said. “They enter burning buildings, climb stairwells, search for victims, and put the lives of others ahead of their own. 9/11 also reminded us that although we had become accustomed to living in a country protected by two vast oceans, and by men and women who stood watch around the world, evil could reach us even at home.”

Phipps said 9/11 spurred many on to serve as part of America’s military, with many of them “returning home and continuing their commitment to public service by becoming police officers, firefighters, and other first responders.”

“Today, we honor more than those who were lost on 9/11,” Phipps said. “We honor all those who continue to stand between danger and the people they are sworn to protect. We are those who raised their right hand and made a promise to serve, and we remember that freedom and security are never free. They are protected today by the men and women who are willing to sacrifice their time, their comfort, and sometimes their lives, for something greater than themselves.”

“I remember seeing the second plane hit and the destruction and chaos,” said Mayor Alton Craft. “There was chaos in my office. We were stunned. We didn’t know what to say. We were not prepared for this. We had forgotten Pearl Harbor. 9/11 happened. We saw it live. It changed us.”

Craft said the stories of the first responders were about “those going up or going back in to try to save people.”

“And those on Flight 93 took their own lives to ensure no one else died,” he said.

“These are heroes,” Craft said. “They had the greatest attributes you would ever want in an American. They gave it all so we could live in freedom. So, we must remember our first responders,” Craft said.

Members of the Oxford Police Department and Oxford Fire Department presented the colors. Oxford Health System’s Carla Jones sang the National Anthem and Taylor Tindell led the Pledge of Allegiance. Prayers were led by Oxford Police Chaplain Dr. C.O. Grinstead and Oxford Fire Chaplain Harold Feazell.