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Israel honors Sept. 11 rescue workers

NYPD officers hold the skullcaps goven to them at the ceremony.

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israel honored U.S. rescue workers Monday for their heroism in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

A 12-member delegation represented members of all the emergency services involved in the immediate aftermath of the attack on New York. A group of Pentagon staff members also were on hand.

The delegates were presented with awards from the Israeli Ministry of Tourism at a ceremony in a hotel in Jerusalem.

They were also given skullcaps in the colors of the U.S. flag and inscribed with the words, "God Bless America," and certificates citing their courage.

"On September 11, many ordinary people did tremendously extraordinary things," said New York Police Lt. David Nadel, who helped coordinate the arrival of cranes and construction equipment at the World Trade Center and getting injured people to hospitals.

"When the terrorists brought terrorism to our shores, I don't think they knew how mad it was going to make us," said Army Sgt. Maj. Tony Rose, who has received the army Soldier's Medal for heroism and the Purple Heart for his actions after the Pentagon attack.

The workers are guests of Israel's Tourism Ministry and Foreign Ministry, Jewish groups, and El Al, Israel's national airlines.

During their stay, which ends Thursday, the delegates will meet leaders of Israel's government, be briefed by military, police and rescue personnel and watch demonstrations by the country's anti-terrorism and emergency services.

They are planning to visit Tel Aviv, religious and historical sites around Jerusalem, a kibbutz and the Galilee region.

New York police said a focus of the trip will be a discussion of the response of local emergency personnel in the wake of the September 11 attacks and preventive measures to ensure public safety.

The members will meet with members of the Israeli government and victims of terror attacks in Israel.