San Juan Pays Tribute to 9/11

Moments before the crack of gunpowder during a 21-gun salute and the solemn ringing of Mission bells, told those who gathered San Juan Capistrano's downtown Sunday that their presence was a testament to community and American spirit.

He opened the short 9/11 anniversary ceremony on a cloudy morning at , where members of the city's adopted 1st Battalion, 11th Marines stood erect in crisp uniforms. An American flag hung from 60 feet, draped atop a fire engine ladder.

Allevato's remarks on the resilient American spirit were echoed by Fire Chief Keith Richter and Sheriff Sandra Hutchens as they spoke from the stage, looking out at children dressed in red, white and blue and elderly couples who clung to each other.

"I do not believe the passage of time will ever alleviate the immense pain we felt that day, and continue to feel today," Allevato said. "Yes, 9/11 changed us forever. I hope today will remind you of our American spirit, even in unfathomable odds."

As a "symbol of gratitude" to local police and firefighters "who put their lives on the line for us everyday," he gave them flags decorated with the names of the first responders who died on 9/11.

"As we remember American's darkest day, we honor our first responders," he said.

Allevato, Hutchens and Richter also reminded the crowd to not forget the military men and women deployed to some of the world's most "challenging places," of the need to prepare for emergencies such as and of how the terrorist attacks 10 years ago "defined a new generation."

Quoting Ronald Reagan, Hutchens said, "We will always remember, we will always be proud, we will always prepared, so we will always be free."

She spoke of the jurisdictional boundaries that agencies broke down as a result of the 9/11 attacks, enabling the Sheriff's Department to cooperate with the military, FBI, Transportation Security Administration and others "with the express purpose of protection America from attacks."

The sun broke through the clouds just as the Orange County Sheriff's Department Color Guard raised the park's flag and a bugler played. Moments before, children jumped as shots rang out during the 21-gun salute.

Michele Thomas, the wife of sheriff's Deputy Shane Thomas, brought the couple's four young children to the ceremony. Her eldest, Kylee, was only 3 when the towers were hit.

Although the kids don't quite understand the significance of that day, Michele said, it was important for them to see their dad in uniform. Kylee said she remembered him "freaking out" as they watched the events unfold live with neighbors who had just relocated from Manhattan.

Michele Thomas said her other children are too young to teach the graphic details of 9/11, so "we explain that there are people who hate Americans because of our freedoms."

The ceremony closed with a live rendition of Alan Jackson's Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning.