Like many cities around the nation, Mesa held an event Saturday to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
Former Mesa Fire Chief Dennis Compton spoke at the event.
“I actually witnessed the explosion at The Pentagon when it was hit by American Airlines flight 77. I was just across Route 1 on the third floor mezzanine hallway of the Crystal City Marriott Hotel,” he said.
As a former first-responder, Compton praised the courage of those in his profession. He also praised the passengers of United Airlines Flight 93 who brought down their plane in Pennsylvania before it struck its likely intended target, the U.S. Capitol.
Mesa Mayor John Giles also spoke at the commemoration as the names of those who were killed scrolled behind him.
