Mammoth Lakes Rotary Club’s First Responder ceremony and lunch on September 11th started out small, but this year grew to a major community event that included some 250 people at Fire Station #1 – many law enforcement, firefighters, paramedics and general community members.

Cleland Hoff talked to Mammoth Rotary President Jerry Kelly at this year’s event:

In 2002, in memory of September 11th, the Rotary Club invited the police department, fire department, sheriffs department, the highway patrol to a little cook-out. We had it at Mammoth Creek Park. That was the beginning.

The next year, we had the Marines from Pickel Meadows. We invited as many groups as we could in Mono County. This is our sixth year. Its been a tremendous success. It certainly makes us feel good. I think it makes our local heroes, first responders, feel good. It is open to the community. Weve had 250 people here. Were very, very pleased.

Kelly and others noted that the ceremony which included Mammoth’s own Color Guard was very moving, very touching.