For Anthony Bermudez, joining the Gulfport Fire Department a year ago was one of the best decisions he has ever made.
     “My passion is for community,” said Bermudez. “And I have a servant’s heart. So, this is the perfect career for me.”
     Bermudez is an entry-level firefighter stationed at Central Fire Station 1 located at 1515 23rd Ave. in Gulfport. He moved to the Mississippi Gulf Coast with his wife, Myranda, just a couple of years ago from Las Vegas.

     On September 11, 2025, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Bermudez, along with fellow firemen at the station, as well as officers of the nearby Gulfport Police Department at 2220 15th St., was greeted by community volunteers serving up free lunches, gifts, and smiles as part of an annual appreciation event in remembrance of 9/11.

“A lot of first responders get put on the back burner, but not today. This lets us know we are appreciated. It’s a nice gesture for those of us who sacrifice their time and family and who put their lives on the line to help others.”

Anthony Bermudez, Gulfport Fire Department

     Now in its seventh consecutive year, the Honors First Responders event has grown exponentially since its kickoff in 2019.
     The event was launched by the Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s HUB for Volunteers & Nonprofits. And, since 2021, has been under the direction of WOW Women of Wisdom Gulf Coast, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering meaningful connections and relationships that transform lives.
     WOW event chair, Bridget Turan, is proud to have had the opportunity to lead the event from the start and witness its expansion as it continues to increase its numbers of volunteers, donors and sponsors.  
     “I’m overjoyed with the amount of support we get each year,” said Turan. “We truly couldn’t do this without it.”
     Turan continued, “The heart behind this event is to show gratitude and support for those who serve on the front lines, protecting our communities every single day.
     “Sadly, many of them go unrecognized, and we want to change that.”

     Every time, organizers aim to make the event bigger and better; giving back to as many local first responders as they can. And, so far, that goal has been met.
     This year’s event raked in more than $65,000 in donations from local businesses and individuals along with 70 volunteers who helped serve nearly 1,100 first responders at 33 fire and police departments, totaling 91 individual stations, across Harrison, Hancock, and Jackson counties to include 13 cities-Saucier, Gulfport, Biloxi, Ocean Springs, Moss Point, D’Iberville, Long Beach, Pass Christian, Bay St. Louis, Waveland, Diamondhead, Pascagoula, and Gautier.
     Each year, the event celebrates the bravery and sacrifice of police and fire personnel by providing a special lunch and often includes appreciation signs, door prizes, handmade cards, and more. Additionally, a new component was added to this year’s celebration to include 35 K-9’s receiving treats, toys and other items.

     Gulfport firefighter Deputy Chief Curtis Prestwood said, “This group of ladies spoils us every year. This is one of the events we look forward to.”
     Gulfport’s Deputy Fire Marshal Zach Northington stressed the significance of the event and what it means to him and his fellow firefighters. “We appreciate people who recognize us and bring us together every year to never forget what happened,” he said. “We couldn’t do what we do without having the community behind us.”
     According to Gulfport Fire Chief Billy Kelley, the city’s 11 fire stations answer approximately 16,000 calls per year including structure fires, car fires, and brush fires, with the bulk of those calls made for medical emergencies, rope rescue, and swift water rescue.

     The set up for the 9/11 event remains the same with first responders from each city’s respective fire and police stations rotating through their main central station to take part in the festivities. First responders both on and off duty are entered into a raffle drawing for door prizes. Students at area schools decorate personalized “Thank You” cards that are distributed to first responders and personnel at the individual stations where they are often put on display.

     “…Each year, we eagerly anticipate the opportunity to serve our community by celebrating the local heroes who dedicate themselves to us every day of the year,” said WOW Founder Robin Killeen. “It’s both an honor and a privilege to give back. This year felt particularly special, and the fantastic feedback we’ve received reinforces our passion for what we do. We love our local heroes, community partners, volunteers and special event team.”
Killeen touted the event has a tendency to push the giving spirit of volunteers into high gear; evident this year when Jerry and Carol Sheehan served the D’Iberville Police Department.
“As a result of WOW serving in D’Ibervillle on 9/11, one of our volunteers/WOW leaders realized their refrigerator wasn’t working, and she went to Lowe’s and asked them to donate one, and they agreed,” Killeen said. “So, she and her husband went and picked it up and delivered it to the station.”

     Opportunities to support the event are abound allowing local businesses, organizations and individuals to choose from a variety of different sponsor packages.
     This year’s headlining sponsors are Gulfport Behavioral Health System, Vein Institute D’Iberville, Waldorf University, Rovira Construction, Scarlet Pearl Casino, and Pilger Title Company. Additional sponsors include Renasant Bank, Gulf Coast Neuro Spa, The Butch Oustalet Foundation, Memorial, Coast Electric, Gulfport Premium Outlets, and Vivian Champaigne of Coldwell Banker, Alfonso Realty Inc.

     In-kind contributions include donated meals and gifts from local restaurants, distributors and individuals. This year’s in-kind sponsors are The Rack House, Girl Meets Kitchen, Raising Cane’s, Diamond Nutrition, Walk On’s Sports Bistreaux, The 5K Way, The Lemon Shack, Chick-Fil-A Gulfport, Qdoba Mexican Eats, Boomtown Casino Biloxi, Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast, Kansas Carter, Woodmen Life, Sock Enterprises Inc., Chick-Fil-A D’Iberville, IP Casino Resort & Spa, Memorial, Oceans Healthcare, Joe and Samantha Bignell, Boozers Brew & a Café Too, The Meeting Place, Dummer Law Group PLLC, Ochsner Health, Domino’s Pizza, 1-800-BoardUp, Olive Garden, We Are Moss Point, Seven P Fit, and Chicken Salad Chick.

     Gulfport resident Danielle “Sparkles” Kangas has been volunteering for the event from the beginning. She supports the event in part because her husband, Christopher Kangas, is a firefighter.
     “I love to volunteer,” said Danielle. “And I have a close connection to the Gulfport station because my husband works here, and I am friends with several of the other firefighters. They are good guys.”
     Sept. 11 is recognized nationally as Patriot Day and as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. This year marks the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 Americans, including more than 400 emergency personnel. 

     Appreciation signage was donated this year by Yard Love MS Gulf Coast, and Sign Gypsies of Ocean Springs and is sponsored by different groups and individuals and displayed outside the Gulfport’s main fire station and other participating stations across the coast. Tracy McMurphy with eAgent Gulf Coast was a sign sponsor, as well as Myranda Bermudez with CENTURY 21 Busch Realty Group.
     Last year, the event received help from over 80 volunteers and approximately $60,000 in donated goods, reaching over 900 first responders across 82 individual fire and police stations. Handmade cards and goodie bag items were provided for over 2,223 people.

     The event’s debut seven years ago is no comparison to the event today but serves as testament to its increasing popularity garnering a modest $9,000 in donations in 2019 that helped serve free lunch and coupon giveaways to more than 160 employees and first responders at just one participating station; Gulfport’s Central Fire Station 1, where it all began.  
     Support for its second year in 2020 nearly tripled in donations of more than $27,000 from local businesses and individuals serving first responders at the Gulfport police and fire departments and adding stations in D’Iberville and Biloxi.

     Every year since, the event has continued to attract new sponsors, donors and volunteers.
     Turan said organizers are already asking local businesses, organizations, groups, and individuals to consider sponsoring next year’s event through food donations, monetary contributions, signage, door prizes, or other support.
     For more information about the Honoring First Resonders event or to become a volunteer and/or supporter, contact Turan at MSGC911@yahoo.com,  228-278-8236. For more information about WOW, visit their Facebook page at WOW Women of Wisdom Gulf Coast or call 228-424-0098.

On the cover: Honors First Responders event volunteers come together with Gulfport Fire Department personnel to show their appreciation for their bravery and dedication to helping keep communities safe across the Mississippi Gulf Coast and beyond. Pictured is Adrianne Hungerford, retired Deputy Fire Marshal Greg Marks, Training Chief Eric Valles, Whitney Hampton, Taylor Munghia, Tracy McMurphy, Bridget Turan, Fire Chief Billy Kelley, Deputy Chief Curtis Prestwood, and Danielle Kangas.

Amanda Compton-Ortiz

Amanda Compton-Ortiz holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism from the University of Mississippi. She relocated from North Mississippi to Long Beach in October 2016. Amanda has worked for more than 20 years in journalism, leading and reporting for various community news publications throughout the state. She has received numerous awards for her editorial contributions from the Mississippi Press Association and placed among 224 universities competing across the United States and Canada for Reach, a personally created magazine for women.