Today marks the 19th anniversary of one of the most horrific terrorist attacks the world has ever seen: 9/11.
The event claimed the lives of 2,977 people and injured at least an additional 25,000, the Washington Post reports, forever changing anti-terrorism legislation around the world.
This is how events unfolded on that fateful day:The devastation to New York was so extreme that people from all walks of life tried to do their bit to help their city during its darkest hour, including Hollywood actor Steve Buscemi, who had trained as a firefighter before embarking on his big-screen career.
Buscemi worked as a firefighter in downtown Manhattan in the 1980s, and following the attacks, he donned his uniform once again to work 12-hour shifts in the grueling search for survivors.
Per the Independent, Buscemi said of his efforts at the time:
"It was a privilege to be able to do it. It was great to connect with the firehouse I used to work with and with some of the guys I worked alongside. And it was enormously helpful for me because while I was working, I didn’t really think about it as much, feel it as much."
The actor's heroic actions were once again brought to light by the Brotherhood of Fire Facebook page in 2013, who wrote under a picture of the actor:
"Do you recognize this man? Do you know his name? Lots of people know he's an actor, and that his name is Steve Buscemi. What very few people realize is that he was once one of New York’s Bravest.
"In 1976 Steve Buscemi took the FDNY civil service test when he was just 18 years old. In 1980 Steve Buscemi became a New York City Firefighter. For four years, Buscemi served on one of FDNY's busiest, Engine Co. 55 in Manhattan's Little Italy. He later left the fire service to become a successful actor, writer and director.
"After 9/11/2001... Brother Buscemi returned to FDNY Engine 55.
"On September 12, 2001 and for several days following Brother Steve worked 12-hour shifts alongside other firefighters digging and sifting through the rubble from the World Trade Center looking for survivors."
The post continued: "Very few photographs and no interviews exist because he declined them. He wasn't there for the publicity."
When he did eventually open up about his work with New York's Bravest, the now 62-year-old actor told CBS News: "Firefighters are great at helping others, they're great at helping each other. But they're not always - they don't always know that they, themselves, are in need.
"Their first reaction would be: 'Oh, the next guy has it worse, you know?'"
A total of 343 firefighters made the ultimate sacrifice on 9/11 to serve and protect others, the Independent confirmed, and their sacrifice will be remembered forever.
Buscemi passed the FDNY civil service test at the age of 18, and even though he left firefighting to chase his acting dreams, he remained very much involved in causes that are dear to the hearts of New York City's firefighters.
He has spoken at union rallies and even hosted the HBO documentary, A Good Job: Stories of the FDNY.
He also still serves on the Board of Advisors for Friends of Firefighters, an organization that helps New York-based firefighters and their families.
Buscemi, along with every single first responder that fateful day, is a hero. And may everybody who lost their lives as a result of the attacks rest in eternal peace.
