Bellefontaine Mayor David A. Crissman has served in his current role since Jan. 1, 2024.

Prior to stepping into his position as mayor, Crissman dedicated over 30 years to serving the City of Bellefontaine as a firefighter and paramedic, beginning his career in September 1991 and retiring in January 2022.

This week, he reflected that fateful day 25 years ago that he experienced while serving locally:

On September 11, 2001, I was on duty at the Bellefontaine Fire Department. That morning, we received a call from the wife of a firefighter to turn on the TV because a plane had hit the Trade Center Tower.

We turned on the TV and saw the hole and smoke coming from the Tower. While listening to the reporter, we watched as the second plane hit the second tower. At that moment I said we are under attack. I knew this wasn't an accident.

Being on the Fire Department, I knew if I was a New York firefighter I would be at Ground Zero in one way or another. We had to continue our job that day. The attitude of our staff and the people we had to help was very different for many days.

I remember that week after how quiet it was without any aircraft flying.

Ben Stahler, current president of Bellefontaine City Council and former mayor of Bellefontaine, detailed his recollections of 9-11, including a friend turned national hero from his actions on that tragic day:

Sept. 11, 2001, started out like and the other day for a retail pharmacist. I was working at CVS Pharmacy in Bellefontaine and I was scheduled for a 14-hour day.

Shortly after 9 a.m., one customer walked into the store and proclaimed that a plane had hit one of the World Trade Center towers.

Minute by minute and hour by hour, throughout that very long day, customers would continue to update us as the story continued to unfold.

It was truly one of the longest days of work that I can ever recall. We had no direct access to news. While I didn't have a break or lunch that day, staff would take their breaks and listen as new details broke.

When I finally reached home (10 p.m.), I walked into the house without saying a word. I was numb. I sat down in a chair and turned on a news program and probably stared at the television, in complete disbelief, as I finally could see what was happening in New York City, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C.

The next day, I reached out to my best friend growing up, Ret. Lt. Col. Ted Anderson. He not only survived the plane striking his side of the Pentagon, he helped others to leave the building safely.

He then went against the grain to assist local firefighters to gain access and understand the complex layout of the Pentagon. He was personally recognized, days later, by President Bush as a hero.

Former WPKO/WBLL news director Bill Tipple, currently Bellefontaine City Schools' communications coordinator, recalls what the events of Sept. 11, as experienced in the those initial moments:

I still vividly remember the morning of September 11th, 2001. I went home to get something to eat. Moments later, co-worker Ken Keller called me.

Ken told me about the first plane striking the World Trade Center.

Initially, I thought he was kidding me. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.

I started watching a few minutes of live coverage on my TV, then quickly returned to WPKO.

I took the station van out and did live reports with various community leaders.

Station manager Chad Wilkinson coordinated live updates from the Ohio News Network and other national networks at the studio.

We provided live updates until 6:00 that evening. Ken then took over with our evening coverage.

Personally, like most Americans, I was shocked about what happened that morning.

It changed our lives forever, especially with airport security and our sentiments as a nation.

I also have so much respect for first responders and the armed forces.