There were tears, cheers and doves at a pond-side event Saturday in Oak Hill Park, where hundreds of San Ramon Valley residents gathered to eulogize those who lost their lives on 9/11.

Several local dignitaries were in attendance, including Danville Mayor Mike Doyle, who said in remarks to the crowd: "We must remember that on Sept. 11 not only our soil, but our souls, were attacked."

Doyle recounted a visit he and his wife had at a firehouse near Ground Zero in New York City.

"One of the guys called on his cell phone and told family in Alamo that he was sitting with the Danville mayor," Doyle said. "Then the alarm went off and without hesitation, they just did their duty and went off to fight yet another fire."

Doyle added that honoring service members at the event is made event more relevant by the recent disaster in San Bruno.

"On Sept. 11, life changed for all of us in one second," he said. "We recently saw the same happen for so many families in San Bruno, and who was first to go help them: our noble firefighters and emergency crews. The next time you see a soldier or sailor or any service member, give them your thanks."

Contra Costa County Supervisor Mary Piepho also recalled a visit to ground zero, where she said she viewed a memorial in an Episcopal church that was used as a triage center during Sept. 11.

"It was a touching memory to see dusty and dirty firefighters' uniforms hung up to memorialize those lives lost," she said. "We are a home of the free because of the brave."

San Ramon Mayor H. Abram Wilson said such memorials are important keys in shaping children's values.

"As Americans we understand that there is a tomorrow, but that tomorrow is in the eye of our neighbors, our children," he said. "The next generation that is here today will not forget why we honor those two days in history."

Lanisa Keith provided the event's musical numbers, singing the national anthem accompanied by a release of white doves and also "Where Were You?," a song originally written by country star Alan Jackson after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Titled "Lest We Forget," the event was hosted by the San Ramon Valley Exchange Club and brought together countless service clubs and organizations.  The Exchange Club is a national service organization that has almost 30,000 members across the U.S. according to Karen Stepper, president of the San Ramon chapter and the event's emcee.

Other local politicians in attendance included Rachel Hurd and Ken Mintz, members of the San Ramon Valley Unified School Board, and Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan, D-Alamo.