Hundreds come together to remember 9/11 in Clovis

CLOVIS, Calif. (KFSN) -- Hundreds gathered at one of the Valley's largest 9/11 memorial events at Pelco by Schneider Electric in Clovis.

With heavy hearts, local law enforcement, firefighters and military members took time to remember the lives lost on September 11th.

Former New York City firefighter Andy Isolano was among the many paying their respects.

Isolano said, "On the morning of 9/11 my life changed forever. I lost 13 close friends. And 343 fellow firefighters."

Isolano lives in the Valley, but that day is never far away. Currently, Isolano works as a fire prevention officer in Clovis, but recently got the chance to feel like a firefighter again.

"November 12th of '01 was the last day I was a full duty fireman, and this week fortunately I got a little glimmer of being back, not being on the front lines, but the camaraderie."

Isolano has been serving as public information officer on the Rough Fire and has already met a few firefighters from New York. While Isolano serves as living history, he knows the attacks that day left some firefighters too haunted to ever return.

"It's taken some time," said Isolano. "I do enjoy what I am doing now and I'm never going to stop missing the firehouse but thankfully Clovis/Fresno has become my family."

And on Friday, that community came out to show their support and to never forget.