On Saturday, the typically small ceremony held in front of Townley’s North Woods Avenue house was more substantial for this year’s 20th anniversary. “We are going big,” Townley said. “We are going to do exactly what New York City does.”

On Saturday, across Orange County, ceremonies and processions paid tribute to those who died in the attacks and the first responders who raced to help people.

During the service at Townley’s house, the names of the nearly 3,000 people who died were recited, a rendition of the national anthem was sung and a bagpiper played. A bell rang out six times to acknowledge six tragic moments that took place throughout that day: When each of the two towers at the World Trade Center were struck, the moments each fell, when a hijacked plane crashed in Shanksville, Penn., and when another went into the Pentagon.

Leila Darjany, 7, and her brother Levi, 5, looked over a photo memorial of thousands of Sept. 11 victims outside Townley’s house, pointing out pictures of firefighters who died 20 years ago. Their father, Chris Darjany, said he takes his children to 9/11 events because “we want them to learn to respect people’s lives and grieve with those who grieve.”

Townley, an Orange County Fire Authority firefighter, began creating his memorial on Sept. 15, 2001, starting with a piece of wood he found in his garage, on which he painted a tribute to those who died in the towers, he said.

“When we lost 343 firefighters – which are brothers, because we’re all family – it was devastating,” Townley said. “And I worked for a department at the time that had 230 people in it, so it would be like me losing my entire fire department that I’ve worked for, for 20 some years.”

The memorial grew, and more and more people came to see it. Townley, with the help of volunteers, unearths the display pieces from his garage each year on Sept. 6, and takes it down Sept. 12. This year, he added a small memorial honoring the 13 U.S. troops killed recently in Afghanistan.

Sitting in the blocked-off street were Kellie and Mike Cooper with their two children, Rue, 5, and Max, 7. Kellie Cooper said they have been attending the neighborhood event since they moved there seven years ago, when Max was just 6-days old.

“We just want them to know that we’ve never forgotten out here on the West Coast,” Townley said.

Before the morning service at Townley’s house, Bob Kohler had already spent hours standing on the 5 Freeway overpass on Yale Avenue in Irvine, wearing a red, white and blue jacket he received for running in the LA Marathon and sporting a U.S. Army veteran cap.

Kohler, 90, of Irvine, arrived at the bridge well before sunrise, as he has every year for the past two decades. After affixing an American flag and posters to the chain fencing so that passing motorists below could see it, Kohler stood at attention and saluted the flag.

His display honored Army Pfc. Cale C. Miller, who died in Afghanistan in 2012. Miller and his family previously attended Kohler’s church in Irvine, he said.

Kohler takes the spot over the freeway each year on Sept. 11, prompting honks from passing vehicles – about 150 in just a couple hours, he estimates. As the darkness turned to light on Saturday, Kohler stood next the flag and saluted each honking motorist.

“It’s just special for me to do,” he said. “I don’t care if people make fun of me.”

At a service in Rancho Santa Margarita, community members gathered with first responders and other uniformed personnel to pay tribute to the victims of the 9/11 attacks.

Robert Casillas, an Army veteran who served in the Vietnam War, stood to be recognized as his branch was called during the Patriot Day Ceremony. The Mission Viejo resident said he wanted to be part of the event “to honor the fallen who gave their lives on 9/11 and the incredibly brave people who helped crash that plane in Virginia to avoid further incident in Washington D.C.”

Lucky De Jesus, of Mission Viejo, carried an American flag as he ran along Antonio Parkway after the service, an act he said was spurred out of “an overwhelming spirit of patriotism and a sense of American pride.”

Near the Richard Nixon Presidential Library & Museum, people lined Yorba Linda Boulevard in the morning to watch 23 tons of steel, salvaged from the World Trade Center attacks 20 years ago, make its way to the library. The wreckage was escorted by the California Highway Patrol, Orange County Sheriff’s Department and Orange County Fire Authority, with helicopters that flew low enough to cause people to hold on to their hats in the wind.

The ceremony at the library featured speeches, musical performances and a procession of fire engines and vehicles.

Five future soldiers took the U.S. Army Oath of Service at the event, the New York Times reported, receiving cheers from the crowd. Celebrating his 24th birthday, Patrick Franks told The Times, “I’ve always wanted to serve my country. That’s the best way I can help the most people.”

Also Saturday morning, the sound of “Amazing Grace” filled the air as bagpiper Timothy Burke of San Dimas played while slowly walking through the hundreds of American flags placed in the ground at Eucalyptus Park in Anaheim.

The performance followed a ceremony in which U.S. Army veteran Mike Andersen spoke, telling the crowd of about 200 people how the events of 9/11 inspired him to join the Army.

Following the ceremony, people strolled among the flags, touching them and taking photos.

The Field of Honor will remain up for three days in the park. And the display of twisted steel from the World Trade Center will remain open to the public at the Nixon Library until Sept. 17.

This year’s event benefits Laguna Beach Seniors, CSP Youth Project, Laguna Beach Resource Center, The Artist Fund, First Thursday Art Walk, Laguna Beach Boys & Girls Club and No Square Theatre.

Participating restaurants included ReMark’s, Sundried Tomato Cafe, The Cliff, K’ya Bistro, Tommy Bahama, The White House and Las Brisas.

The show featured pieces designed and created by students in Saddleback College’s Fashion Design program as well as several looks from local boutiques Melrose in the O.C. and Swirl Boutique.

A panel of industry judges selected first, second, and third place winners in corsets, fantasy, ready-to-wear and evening wear categories along with a “best in show” winner, which went to designer Marc Martinez, who was awarded $500.

Boomkaz Dance Group and Deejay ADM also performed at the show.

Local residents donated pies that were sold at the event. They also bid on pieces of art and other items from Africa and Latin America available in a silent auction.

Johnson has been working with various groups in urban slums around the world for the past 35 years.

She founded Give a Child Life after witnessing the poor nutrition of young kids in many developing countries. The organization aims to provide clean water along with fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods to families that otherwise wouldn’t have access to them in urban centers that lack the space required to grow food. Information: giveachildlife.org

The annual event, which has been going on for about 30 years, featured live music, a live and silent auction, clowns, face painting, miniature horses, therapy dogs, a photo booth and an obstacle course.

Proceeds from this year’s breakfast will help fund a handicap accessible playground at the school.

Students, teachers and parents, as well as representatives from local “green” companies, taught each other about a range of environmental issues in a carnival-style atmosphere that aimed to “show people that being eco-friendly is not scary.”

A reception with the artists is scheduled for May 22 at the library, 31495 El Camino Real.

For more information, call 949-493-1752.