Rialto Mayor Deborah Robertson (4th from left) attends 9/11 tribute.

One participant was SBVC Trucking student Kahrhan Harris.

Rialto Fire Department Chief Brian Park spoke at the event.

On September 11, 2023, at precisely 9:11 am, the Veterans Resource Center at San Bernardino Valley College hosted a deeply moving and poignant event to honor the memory of the tragic events that unfolded on September 11, 2001. This special gathering brought together students, faculty, and community members to pay tribute to the lives lost and the heroes who emerged during one of the darkest moments in American history.

What made this event particularly unique and meaningful was the opportunity for guests to participate in a symbolic act of remembrance. Attendees were invited to draw a name from a shadow box, each name representing one of the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice on that fateful day. These names served as a reminder of the individuals whose lives were tragically cut short.

After drawing a name, participants were guided to a flight of steps, where they were joined by Don the Fire Fighting Ensemble and equipped with a Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), similar to those used by firefighters on 9/11. The SCBA added a sense of authenticity to the experience, allowing participants to feel the weight and equipment that firefighters carried as they courageously ascended the stairs of the World Trade Center towers.

Mayor Deborah Robertson of Rialto and the City of Rialto Fire Department also witnessed the impact of the event. The feedback from students was reflective, some stating the experience was "emotional" and "humbling."