When the 17th anniversary of 9/11 arrived Tuesday, the nation stopped to remember the people, police officers and firefighters who died when the Twin Towers collapsed in New York City with special programs, church services and ceremonies of remembrance.

Locally, 9/11 was observed by the Salvation Army with a breakfast for first responders provided by the Salvation Army’s Women’s Auxiliary, while Warren Central High School held a morning commemorative observance on its campus.

The auxiliary started the breakfast tradition in 2013.

“We want to show that we appreciate the first responders,” Auxiliary president Shelia McKinnis said. “They are the first to arrive in really all situations; during a storm, if there’s a line down or a tree down, they are the first to report that.

“This is just a small token of what we can do to give back to say, ‘Thanks for your service,’” she said.

“We’re honored to serve this community,” Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace said, adding that on Sept. 11 people need to honor the community’s first responders, but also “keep in our prayers the families who lost loved ones during the 9/11 attack and the first responders who responded.

“As honored as we are to serve this community, we should all remember that after the 9/11 attack, it was more than just law enforcement and firefighters that responded. There were steel workers and welders, from most every union hall in the country who responded to sort through the rubble looking for victims.”

Fire Chief Craig Danczyk said it was wonderful that organizations like the Salvation Army can reach out to public safety.

“We were glad to attend and meet and greet with law enforcement and just talk. I can always remember where I was on 9/11. In the fire service, 9/11 changed everything and still has.

“So we remember the tragic event and we appreciate and remember those (who died).”