First responders from both sides of the border at Peace Arch Park to honour those who gave their lives to help others during the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and those who, 16 years later, continue to serve and protect, both in their own backyard, and around the world.

Police, firefighters, paramedics, politicians and civilians converged on the international border between South Surrey, B.C. and Blaine, Wash., to remember a tragedy that both devastated and strengthened.

乌鸦传媒淥n Sept. 11, my department lost 23 members. Matt乌鸦传媒檚 lost 343,乌鸦传媒� New York Police Department Sgt. Kevin Lynch told the crowd, referring also to the enormous impact the attacks 乌鸦传媒� which killed nearly 3,000 that day 乌鸦传媒� had on the city乌鸦传媒檚 fire department, which was represented Monday by Matthew Zimpfer.

乌鸦传媒淭hink about those numbers for a minute, because a number乌鸦传媒檚 just a number until you think about the fact that each one of those people had a family that they cared about, had people they loved and people who loved them.

乌鸦传媒淏ut they did what first responders always do, and that乌鸦传媒檚 run to whoever needs help.乌鸦传媒�

One after another, speakers stood, acknowledging the 乌鸦传媒渉eartbreaking and devastating acts of violence乌鸦传媒� of that day, but returning always to give thanks and acknowledge the partnerships and resolve that strengthened in the wake of the tragedy.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection乌鸦传媒檚 Blaine area port Director Kenneth Williams posed, and answered, the question, 乌鸦传媒渁re we truly safer?乌鸦传媒�

乌鸦传媒淚 can stand here with confidence and say yes,乌鸦传媒� Williams said, citing improvements in security measures in the years since 9/11, and ones to come.

乌鸦传媒淔or those who wish to do us harm, we are sending a clear message.乌鸦传媒�

Vancouver Police Department Supt. Mike Porteous said that while the border may divide the U.S. and Canada, 乌鸦传媒渨e are human beings and fellow first responders, brothers and sisters.乌鸦传媒�

乌鸦传媒淭ogether we stand in the face of tragedy, remembering our fallen heroes and carrying on in their names. We will remember,乌鸦传媒� Porteous said.

South Surrey-White Rock MP Dianne Watts, representing Canada in the ceremony, echoed the call to 乌鸦传媒渁lways remember乌鸦传媒� those who died.

U.S. Consul General Katherine Dhanani said the day was to remember 乌鸦传媒渢hose brave men and women who gave everything for strangers they never knew simply because it was in them to respond as heroes.乌鸦传媒�

Lynch told the crowd that he doesn乌鸦传媒檛 feel like a hero for his actions on Sept. 11, 2001.

乌鸦传媒淚 feel like a person who did my job, and I think that乌鸦传媒檚 what every first responder would mention when asked why they do it,乌鸦传媒� he said.

乌鸦传媒淚t was a horrible day for us, as a city, as a nation and as a world, but in the days, and the weeks, months and the years that have followed, it乌鸦传媒檚 brought out the best in the human spirit.乌鸦传媒�