A good crowd turned out with damp, cold feet and warm hearts for the 9th Annual United Way Day of Caring to remember the September 11 attacks and to honor community volunteers, law officers, firefighters, emergency personnel and members of the armed services.

“The turnout was awesome,” said Jim Tompkins, chairman of the board of the Athens-Limestone United Way. “It really just shows the character of the people of Limestone County that they would show up in this mess.”

The crowd included State Rep. Tommy Carter among various other community officials.

“This is one of the most refreshing events we’ve had all summer,” said Kaye McFarlen, United Way executive director, jokingly referring to the rain.

The Day of Caring is a communitywide event in which the United Way of Athens-Limestone County and its 19-member agencies adopt and carry out projects to help make the community a better place to live. The celebration and lunch at the Fitness Park in Athens honored these volunteers and all service personnel in the community.

Just minutes before the ceremony started, many safety personnel at the festivities had to leave the event to respond to an emergency call. McFarlen said that was just another example of them doing their jobs.

“We’re thanking everyone for just doing what they do every day,” she said.

State Sen. Tom Butler recalled the events of 9-11, the men and women who served that day and those who ultimately gave their lives.

“In a matter of an hour and 15 minutes this nation was changed,” Butler said as he recalled the airplane attacks that day. “We will not forget what happened on that day in New York, in Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon.”

He recalled the thousands who gave their lives.

“All of them were heroes, but they were just doing there jobs,” he said.

Remembering 9-11 makes us appreciate the service of emergency workers more, he said.

“We all ought to emulate their lives, to stop and help someone out,” said Butler. As community members, we should all be Good Samaritans and actually stop to help someone.”

Saying one cares is easy, but it’s a lot of work to actually care, and that’s what the United Way is all about, Tompkins said during the ceremony.

“Agencies fill voids of family members who are not there sometimes,” said Tompkins. He said everyone is responsible for the community and taking care of each other.

Dr. Edwin Jenkins, pastor at First Baptist Church in Athens, recalled the many deaths from the attacks.

“We’ve come on this day to say 9-11 was a tragic day, but we arise and come up from it,” Jenkins said. He stressed that patriotism at its strongest is the tribute people can pay to those who died.

“It’s nice that groups come together and recognize the jobs that police officers and emergency workers do,” said Capt. Marty Bruce of the Athens Police Department. “It’s nice. Sometimes it’s a thankless job.”

Bruce said the marking of the fifth anniversary of the attacks makes the event even more meaningful.

“That’s a day that nobody is going to forget,” Bruce said. “When anyone in public service loses their life in the line of duty, you never want to forget that.”