ROWLETT (WBAP/KLIF News) – Rowlett Strong is holding a gala Saturday night to honor the first responders who helped the city recover after a tornado tore through the area December 26, 2015.
The organization’s Steve Walker said they decided to hold the event after the July 7th ambush to let first responders know how much they’re appreciated.
“All of the things that happened in other cities with all of the disrespect towards police officers primarily and first responders in general, we want them to know that we at least appreciate what they did and we are not going to forget it. So this is our way of saying thank you,” he said.
First responders from more than 50 cities, some as far away as Oklahoma, came to Rowlett to render aid.
Walker said they’re planning on presenting police and fire departments with an award made from debris collected after the tornado.
“We do have a nice plaque that we’re going to give to police and fire departments. It’s made from tornado wood which was collected in the debris after the tornado,” he said.
The organization is also planning on creating the Rowlett Strong Foundation, which will help a first responder in need.
“If there’s a firefighter or police officer that is injured in the line of duty or out of the line of duty or has a family emergency or God forbid something worse, we’ll be one of the resources that they can turn to for a little extra help just like what they did for us,” said Walker.
The event is being held Saturday from 5:30 p.m. until Midnight at the Hyatt Place Hotel on 5101 N President George Bush Highway in Garland.
You can purchase tickets to the gala here.
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