SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — A piece of history and remembrance now has a permanent place inside the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office in Tahoe, thanks to two longtime community supporters and the Lake Tahoe Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.
On Friday, Sept. 11, members of the chapter stopped by the Sheriff’s Office to present staff with artwork created for permanent display in the lobby in remembrance of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
The visit came on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, a milestone that brought renewed attention nationwide to the lives lost and the first responders who ran toward danger that morning.
Among those making the presentation were Jini Becktell and Denise Power, two women who are well-known fixtures in the Lake Tahoe community for their support of local first responders.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Becktell and Power are regular sources of encouragement for area public safety personnel. Their community outreach has also included providing first responders with homemade beignets and cookies that have become, according to the Sheriff’s Office, “Tahoe famous.”
A Personal Thank You
The visit was more than a presentation.
As deputies and sergeants arrived at the Tahoe office, Becktell and Power took time to personally greet them and thank them for their service.
That personal interaction reflected the central purpose of the tribute: remembering that the work of first responders is not simply a profession, but a commitment to protecting neighbors and communities.
The Lake Tahoe community has a long history of relying on law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical personnel and other first responders to serve residents and visitors across the basin, including during some of the region’s most challenging conditions.
For the Sheriff’s Office, the artwork will serve as a continuing reminder of that broader tradition of service and sacrifice.
In a message thanking the women and the chapter, the Sheriff’s Office described the recognition as “powerful and patriotic” and emphasized the continuing importance of remembering those who sacrificed their lives on 9/11.
“We will never forget.”
Remembering 9/11 in El Dorado County
The Sept. 11 anniversary remains a significant day for law enforcement and public safety agencies across the country.
The Lake Tahoe Chapter’s own calendar recognizes Sept. 11 as Patriot Day and notes the tradition of displaying the American flag and observing a moment of silence in remembrance of those killed in the attacks.
The Lake Tahoe community also marked the anniversary through public remembrance events. The American Legion Post 795 in South Lake Tahoe, for example, hosted a 9/11 ceremony honoring victims and local first responders, with representatives from several public safety agencies, including the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office.
For residents of El Dorado County, particularly those living and working in the Tahoe Basin, Friday’s visit offered a quieter form of remembrance — one centered on personal gratitude.
The permanent artwork presented by the Lake Tahoe DAR will remain in the Sheriff’s Office lobby long after the anniversary has passed, providing a daily reminder of the people who served, the people who were lost and the responsibility carried forward by today’s first responders.
The Sheriff’s Office extended its appreciation to Becktell, Power and the members of the Lake Tahoe Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution for their continued support.
On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, their message was simple and enduring: remember the sacrifice, honor those who serve and never forget.
Sources: El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office statement regarding the Sept. 11 presentation; Lake Tahoe Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution calendar; Visit Lake Tahoe listing for the 2026 9/11 remembrance ceremony.
