"It's so important that we have events like this so that we never forget."
Honoring the Past
September 11, 2026 - Kiersten Bliss
Over 400 El Dorado county community members came together on the 25th anniversary of the 9-11 tragedy at Ponderosa High School varsity baseball field to remember those who died and recognize local first responders. The beautiful September weather created a perfect evening for citizens to gather under the ginormous flag atop the brand new El Dorado county fire ladder truck.
The memorable evening kicked off at 5pm with local band Flashback playing classic rock hits while residents arrived and set up lawn chairs and blankets. Attendees enjoyed the live music as the mingled, grabbed food at the local food trucks, visited with local firefighters and police officers and their fire engines and squad cars (and a surprise helicopter fly by of the El Dorado County Sheriff department!) and participated in the various service projects and booths: Fire Fighter Burn Institute, care kits assembly for local first responders, letter-writing to current military personnel, and cutting and preparing feminine hygiene products for the global non-profit, Days for Girls. Over 230 care kits were assembled in an hour in addition to several letters and hygiene products.
At 6:30pm, the evening transitioned to a more serious tone as John Clerici of the Placerville city council welcomed all to an evening of remembrance, "We're here to honor those that passed on 9-11 and we're here to honor the heroes that went towards the danger that day. But also these heroes today--who do it all the time."
Reverend Debra Sabino of Our Saviour Episcopal then offered a beautiful prayer followed by the combined Honor Guard of El Dorado County Sheriff and Fire Departments posting the colors.
The rest of the program featured patriotic and contemporary religious songs performed by youth and adult soloists as well as a combined interfaith choir led by Rob Sabino, choral master at Holy Trinity Parish in El Dorado Hills. Following the choir's final number, "You Raise Me Up," the crowd heard a few remarks from retired Fire Chief Joseph Tenney and Sergeant Nathan Seger.
Chief Tenney somberly recounted the 343 firefighters, 72 law enforcement officers, 8 EMS personnel, and nearly 3,000 civilians. "There's so many people here today who probably have a memory specific to what they may have been doing and there are so many younger people here now who may not have that direct connection. But it's so important that we have events like this so that we never forget."
Sergeant Seger shared, "You could see the crowds running away from those buildings. But amongst them were those men and women who ran back towards to sacrifice their lives to save others." He went on to say that the events of 9-11 stuck with him and several months later led him to begin his career in law enforcement."
Following their remarks, councilman Clerici directed crowd members to come create a human "Tunnel of Honor" for the local responders to walk under and receive commemorative lapel pins as onlookers clapped and cheered. The final performance, "Where Were You" was sung by Tomasi Mann (who happened to be born on September 11, 2018!) as a slideshow of actual footage from 9-11-2001 simultaneously played, deeply touching audience members.
Organizers of this event, Kiersten Bliss and Amber Mann, received positive feedback from several individuals and many requests that such a remembrance event occur every year on September 11....