DES MOINES, Iowa — Thursday marked the 24th anniversary of the deadliest terrorist attack on the U.S. The attacks of 9/11 involved the twin towers of the World Trade Center collapsing after being hit by two planes, devastation at the Pentagon after a plane crashed into it, and one hijacked plane where the passengers overtook the terrorists, causing it to crash into a field.

Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives that day, 2,977 to be exact. That’s how many flags are placed at Gray’s Lake Park in Des Moines to honor all of the lives taken on that day.

The flags were placed by Des Moines Parks and Recreation, along with volunteers.

Charles Mikesh of Grimes was viewing the display on Wednesday. He said he remembers that day vividly. At the time, Mikesh worked for a local branch of Marsh, a worldwide business. Marsh’s headquarters were inside the World Trade Center.

Mikesh was an IT worker for the company and said on the morning of 9/11, he noticed that the network signal for Marsh had gone out and lights started flashing on a computer. The receiver that had lost signal was on top of the first tower that was hit. The signal was lost when the first plane crashed.

When he and his colleagues found out what was happening, that is when he also found out that his colleague and friend was in New York that day for work. James “Jim” Cleere was working in the tower when the plane struck. He was one of eight Iowans who died that day 24 years ago.

“Jim Cleere that worked in Telecom was out there and I later found out that he was killed also,” Mikesh said. “So that was a sad day and he was the nicest guy. I remember going to his office and working on his laptop and he’d ask about my family.”

Now, Mikesh paid his respects to his friend and coworker by visiting the 9/11 Tribute Walk at Gray’s Lake. They will remain up through Friday, Sept. 12, for people wishing to view the display.