Members of the community showed their support for first responders Tuesday in remembrance of 9/11.

Students at Justice Elementary School wrote letters thanking first responders and presented the letters to them Tuesday morning.

First responders then gathered at Saint Joseph Catholic Church for the 17th annual Blue Mass followed by a light lunch.

The church expressed its thanks to “Mayor Ed Burtner, County Judge-Executive Henry Branham, Winchester Police Chief Kevin Palmer, Clark County Sheriff Berl Perdue, Winchester Fire-EMS Chief Cathy Rigney, Clark County Fire Chief Ernie Barnes, the Winchester Police Department, the Clark County Sheriff’s Department, the Winchester Fire Department, the Clark County Fire Department, the emergency medical technicians who serve us, Frank Doyle and the staff of the Clark County Detention Center, all United States military personnel and veterans who make us free through their service, All city and county employees that serve us and The Winchester Sun.”

Deacon Tony Fritz spoke about how there are few ceremonies left honoring first responders and remembering 9/11.

He said it’s important to remember the impact public servants have on others.

“You make a difference every single day,” Fritz told the first responders in the crowd.