BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — On Wednesday, throughout the community, one local business took time to honor our first responders by feeding them and gifting them with a plaque of appreciation.
SSD Alarms have been traveling around the community on 9/11 for the past 17 years to honor first responders who died during the 2001 terror attacks.
"[I am] appreciative and this community has such a big support for law enforcement," said Officer Brandon McNamara, of Bakersfield Police Department. "But [we are] just thankful for them and the support they have shown us through this lunch and the other events they are hosting today."
SSD Alarms says each year they try to find additional ways, to show their appreciation this year they invited the Centennial High School choir to perform.
"This is important to us because 365 days a year our first responders go out of their way to help us," said Carl Salyards, sales manager for SSD.
"This is just a day we are able to give back to them for us and it isn't really going out of our way to help them give back its an honor for us."
SSD alarms made 13 stops to local first responders offices. They were able to and feed and pay tribute to over 400 personnel, while they reflect on the ultimate loss that happened 18 years ago.
"A senior in high school today wasn't even born and all we can do is explain it to them," said Sheriff Donny Youngblood, for Kern County Sheriff's Office. "I can tell you from my standpoint it was unbelievable, I sat and watch that I couldn't believe it."
SSD Alarms visited both Bakersfield Police Department, Kern County Sheriffs Office, and many Bakersfield Fire stations. There many first responders shared their memories from that day.
"This day will always be a significant event for me in my life," said Sgt. Nathan McCauley, BPD Public Information Officer. "I was an 18-year-old college freshman when 9/11 happened. I was then invading Iraq a year and a half later as a part of the United States Marine Core, as a direct relation to this event."
SSD alarms say that they hope this small gesture shows first responders how much they care.
"Nothing I say or no amount of food we give will be able to really repay everything that they do on a day to day basis," said Salyards. "From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for what you do for our families."
