SPOKANE, Wash. — Community members gathered together to remember those lost on September 11 and honor our local first responders on Sunday.
On September 22, the El Katif Shriners Club hosted it’s fourth annual 9/11 commemoration.
“You can see it’s emotional,” El Katif Shriners Club President, David Campanella.
The event featured a solemn memorial service followed by an awards presentation honoring local first responders.
“As I work with these men and women as first responders, it never escapes me as to why they do what they do. They run to the chaos when others are running away,” said Campanella.
Lieutenant Shaun Pitts of Spokane County Fire District 10 was nominated for one of the awards.
He said the event provided a strong sense of comradery.
“We all kind of share the same pride and dedication and a little bit of banter back and forth between the different jobs,” said Pitts.
Ten awards were given out during the ceremony to different members of local, state and federal agencies.
For Campanella, the event is a moving tribute to first responders’ brother and sisterhoods.
“We remember those that sacrificed their lives so that we can be safe. It’s changed. It changed our world. It changed our culture. But just appreciate the things that happened and what continued after that and that people are still being affected by this decades later, and we have to remember them too,” said Campanella.
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