Thousands gather in Colorado to honor firefighters

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- In the shadow of Pikes Peak, the names of 343 firefighters who died at the World Trade Center have been added to the International Association of Fire Fighters Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial.

On Saturday, families, friends and colleagues gathered to remember those victims and other firefighters who have died in the line of duty.

"We must remember that they could be a serious bunch, but never took themselves too seriously. How easily they would laugh with one another in what we call firehouse humor, yet never forgetting how to weep when compassion was required," said Harold A. Schaitberger, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters.

With a giant American flag draped over a pedestrian bridge above Pikes Peak Ave., the ceremonies began with a procession of hundreds of firefighting vehicles. It started with a fly-over from an Air Force C-130 that helped fight Western wildfires this summer, and ended with four F-16s thundering past.

Air Force Academy cadets ushered nearly 10,000 people to their seats. Hundreds of firefighters wore their finest uniforms, joined by a sprinkling of wildland firefighters in their distinctive yellow shirts and green pants.

The names of all the dead were read aloud while being shown on large screens.

The ceremony was to honor 499 professional firefighters and paramedics killed in the line of duty.