Gulf Shores, AL. — First responders were honored Sunday and the 9/11 terrorist attacks remembered at the Orange Beach Community Center on the 10th anniversary of the deadly events from Sept. 11, 2001.

The event was organized by the Gulf Shores Kiwanis Club and honored Gulf Shores and Orange Beach fire departments and all other agencies for their work on the Gulf State Park fire in June and early July.

The Kiwanis Club gave out commemorative T-shirts to the all firefighters present including those from the Alabama Forestry Commission and almost every other fire department and volunteer fire department in Baldwin County. Those present were encouraged to bring shirts back to those who helped battle the blaze but were unable to attend on Sunday.

Each fire department was also given a framed poster of the T-shirt design to hang in each individual fire hall in recognition of their contributions.

Retired Orange Beach Fire Chief Forney Howard said the work of these professionals is rooted in a saying from the Bible.

“The Bible says a greater love no man has than this, to give his life for a friend,” Howard said. “Firefighters and police officers put something extra on that. It doesn’t matter if you’re a friend or not. They’re there to help you.”

Howard also said that the fire exposed the unity of the communities on Pleasure Island as well as all of Baldwin County and even statewide.

“We’re not just Gulf Shores and we’re not just Orange Beach,” Howard said. “We’re a community of friends and neighbors and relatives who care about each other. That’s one unique aspect of this community that other places I have been do not have.”

Master of ceremonies Kevin Cocoran of the Kiwanis Club said while the fire was scary, he had confidence in the people battling that blaze.

“There was an internal calm about me knowing the professionalism that Hartly (Brokenshaw) and Chief Forney and their departments, I just knew that while it looked massive I knew that somehow we were protected,” Cocoran said. “And that’s just the calm we go to sleep with every night. Knowing what you men and women do so we can go to bed peacefully every night.”

Howard recalled some tense moments from the fire.

“Kevin mentioned he wasn’t worried because me and Hartly were in charge — he should’ve been there Saturday night when we watched that red glow in the sky,” Howard said. “It was a fire of the magnitude I had never seen before. When we lit that one off Saturday night, it was the most fire I’d seen in my life up close.”

Several dignitaries and official were on hand including Rep. Steve McMillian, Mayor John Koniar of Foley, Councilmen Joe Garris and Steve Jones from Gulf Shores, Councilmembers Jeff Silvers, Joni Blalock, Ed Carroll of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores Principal Dr. Ernie Rosado shared memories from his 20-year Air Force career.

Rosado recognized a couple of young sailors visiting from Naval Air Station Pensacola. Also present were 92-year-old World War II veteran Ty Fleming Sr. and his wife, Orange Beach pioneer Ella Callaway Fleming. All current and present members of the military were asked to stand and greeted with a rousing ovation.

Jones and Silvers both read proclamations from their respective cities remembering the day and honoring those who fought the Gulf State Park fire.

“What a special day that you’ve called this group together to give us credit for what we did as firefighters of this community,” Howard said. “We will never forget that day. And I know all of us will never forget that week in June in 2011 when we got that call.”

“I think chief is being much too humble when talking about what they really encountered here,” Cocoran said.

In all, 343 firefighters and more than 70 police officers lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks.

“We are giving thanks and praise to for women and men who stand in the gap for us,” Rev. Alan McBride of the Orange Beach Methodist Church said during his opening prayer.