(CBS/AP) Like the grief, the memorial convoy seemed endless — 300 fire trucks, at one point filing past the wreckage from Monday's disaster, leading to North Charleston's Coliseum, where 20,000 people stared at nine flag-draped coffins.

Thousands of firefighters from across the nation, their hats in their hands as bagpipes played, came Friday to honor nine colleagues who died battling a furniture store blaze. From California to Massachusetts, it seemed as though every fire station in America felt this loss.

"We're a family. Families stick together — best part about this job," Capt. Thomas Alix of the North Charleston Fire Department, told CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann.

Monday night's fire created the single largest loss of firefighters' lives since the Sept. 11 terror attacks in 2001.

"They did what they and every firefighter is prepared to do every day they put on their badge — to risk their life and, if necessary, give their life to make their community safer," Charleston Mayor Joseph Riley told mourners.

The faces of its victims looked out from large photos set beside each casket: Capt. William "Billy" Hutchinson, 48; Capt. Mike Benke, 49; Capt. Louis Mulkey, 34; Mark Kelsey, 40; Bradford "Brad" Baity, 37; Michael French, 27; James "Earl" Drayton, 56; Brandon Thompson, 27; and Melvin Champaign, 46.

"It was their calling, it was their training, it was their duty and unflinchingly, without hesitation, with extreme courage, they did it," Riley said, adding, "They're public servants of the highest order."

Outside the coliseum, more than 250 firefighters formed a human passageway for the men's family members, each wearing a red carnation, to enter the service with uniformed escorts.

"Monday June 18th is a day our city will never forget. We lost nine of the bravest men doing what they loved to do best, Charleston Fire Chief Rusty Thomas said. "Those guys were the best."

Thomas, who knew each man, told stories about them. Each time, he paused to say their name before launching into tales that often drew burst of laughter and applause from the crowd.

In one vignette, Thomas recalled a fire call he went on with Drayton in 1977.

"We got a call at like three o'clock in the morning ... and he's hollering, 'Rusty, get this thing going! ... That's my house!"' said Thomas, whose father also served in the department.

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