Post–9/11: Event Honors Emergency Responders from Then and Now

After so many families were torn apart and relationships shattered in 9/11, who would have thought that 10 years later the tragedy would unite people for the purpose of honoring the emergency responders that risked their lives that day — and who continue to do so — to save others.

That's exactly why hundreds of people gathered Sunday at the , where local officials gave speeches to express their gratitude to the courageous people who defend Americans at home and from afar.

“Three thousand were killed in the Pentagon and Flight 93 combined, and of those 3,000, approximately 400 were 9/11 responders," said Santa Cruz County Supervisor Greg Caput. "They were police, fire and military, and those who sacrificed their lives to try and go back into the buildings and save others. Today is a tribute to all the people who died and to all the public safety officials who put their life on the line, and also for the military, all the ones who've gone to war, and all of our servicemen who have died in the war of Afghanistan and Iraq.”

Tears were unavoidable at Sunday's event, but they didn't seem to stem from sadness but rather from a place of compassion and warmth as people recalled their memories of that unforgettable day.

Santa Cruz resident Tiki Dellamora, an American Red Cross worker, recalled the days following 9/11, when she spent two months at a New York Air Force base helping with the rescue efforts.

“We were right down there at Ground Zero almost every night, and I can't help but remember the steel shards and the smoke that was still in the air, and the big trucks were coming by scooping all the debris, and I would see them just passing me by,” said Dellamora. “That's what I'm thinking about, being down there in the pit and seeing people all come together, seeing the dogs working in there, seeing the people who just came in trying to get people out... trying to find something of someone.”

The event featured several speakers, including former New York businessman  who worked at the World Trade Center at the time it was attacked.

“When the first plane hit, some of the people must have left the building right then and there, but a lot of us didn't," he said. "Then the second plane hit, the building shook and there was smoke, so that's when we decided to get out—we walked down 48 flights of stairs."  

Representatives from law enforcement, fire protection, Emergency Medical Services, state parks, Red Cross and many more emergency-response agencies were honored. Although they expressed pride, they also said they felt they were simply doing their jobs.

“It's a little overwhelming [to be honored],” said Mike Conrad, division chief of the Aptos–La Selva Fire Protection District. "The way we look at it, everyone that lost their lives on that day were just Americans doing their job; we're no different than the janitors and the secretaries and the business people and the military folks. It's great to see the public support that we have, but like I say, that support should be for everybody, not just the first responders—everybody.”

First responders weren't the only ones overwhelmed by the sentimental event. Attendees seemed to feel a great sense of connection as they cheered and clapped for those who were honored.

“It was really touching, especially just getting everyone together," said Brad Clark, 41. "It was 10 years ago, but it just seems like yesterday for us. We came up from Pacific Grove because we just thought we wanted to be a part of it. Being out on the West Coast, we're kind of removed, but we're all Americans. This is really an American day.”

For an overview of all the festivities taking place at the 9/11 tribute, check out the photo gallery.