More than one hundred local first responders were given a free, hearty breakfast at Sowela Technical Community College on Tuesday morning.

Chancellor Neil Aspinwall said the Second Annual First Responders Thank You Breakfast was hosted out of gratitude for local first responders service.

“Sometimes they’re just forgotten heroes. They protect us and we just want to show our appreciation, not only from Sowela but from the public, on behalf of Southwest Louisiana.”

The breakfast was originally scheduled for Sept.11, in remembrance of 9/11, but was delayed due to the potential weather threat of Hurricane Francine.

“I think the farther we get away that, for many people the memories fade. This brings it back,” he explained. “As a nation, it indicates a historic event. It’s monumental. Not that we want to relive the pain that happened on that day, but our nation came together after 9/11, so we just want to celebrate that.”

He believes that the need for first responders is important now more than ever.

“I don’t want to be negative, but I do think our society in general is getting a little more unsafe. We have a lot of threats, and I think the people who go out every day and put their lives on the line deserve respect.”

The breakfast was held at Sowela’s Culinary, Gaming and Hospitality Center, 3841 Senator J. Bennett Johnston Ave. First responders were treated to a full breakfast with all the fixings: bacon, sausage, hashbrowns, eggs and biscuits and gravy.

For Aspinwall, this is what the center is all about.

“When this center was built, it was made to be a welcoming area for people to come sit down, relax and have a good meal.”

Sowela understands the importance of first responders and law enforcement from a workforce perspective as well, said Darlene Hoffpauir, marketing and communications manager, Sowela.

Sowela offers criminal justice and emergency medical training programs to meet local workforce needs