Locals in NE Fla. gather to honor 9/11 victims, those who serve

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It was a day of remembrance and service as people in northeast Florida came together to honor the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001.

For many, it was a time to think about those who died trying to save others. That's why Thursday was also a time to honor those who continue to put their lives on the line every day.

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Filling bags and boxes with items like toothbrushes and deodorant may not seem like the typical way to commemorate the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, but for those gathered under a tent at Metropolitan Park, it was about showing appreciation for first responders and military still serving.

That's why they put together hundreds of care packages for deployed military members.

"For me, it's just a way to give back to the community," volunteer Janani Sadasivan said. "The group that I'm with, we really believe in community service, and so this is what we do all year. It's just a way to show gratitude."

That sense of appreciation continued at the park in song and with spoken words, as Duval County elementary and middle school students took the stage reading letters to first responders. Then the mayor and other city leaders reminded the crowd the event is about those who serve.

"They step up every day to make sure that our community is safe," Mayor Alvin Brown said.

In St. Augustine, the main fire station served as the backdrop for the city's ceremony of remembrance, an annual tradition.

"It's so important to remember those who have gone before us, and the greatest thing that we can do to honor those is to carry on the tradition, and that's what we're doing, as you can see from the recruit class that's here to carry it on," said St. Augustine Fire Chief J.C. Costera. "I think we're doing a good job of that."

No matter which ceremony people attended, those who came out said it's all about honor and gratitude.

"It's a respectful moment in time, a recognition," said St. Johns County Fire Rescue Chief Carl Shank. "We just had trucks go out on an emergency call just before we started talking here, so it really shows the expedient nature of our job. But yet we still want to take time out of our day to honor when we need to."

First responders and military members also received free breakfast downtown on Thursday.

The events were put on by the Women of Color Cultural Foundation and several other community partners. It's something they say the hope to continue doing every year.

Naval Station Mayport also held a remembrance ceremony to honor those killed in the attacks.

U.S. Navy Chief Select Mario Penaranda said the attacks made him decide to join the military.

"It motivated me to join the Navy and fight for the country that's given me a lot of opportunities to grow, and I want to defend that and I want to defend that for all the people so they can have the same opportunities that I have," Penaranda said.

He was sitting in his college classroom when he heard the news that one of the Twin Towers had been struck.

"I thought it was just an accident, and all the sudden we saw the second plane crash in the second building, and then we started thinking, 'This is something different; this is something serious; this is an attack,'" Penaranda said.

Now he joins his military brothers and sisters at the Naval Station Mayport to honor the thousands killed during the attacks.