Amtrak crash first responders awarded breakfast at Reading Terminal Market

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Heaping spoonfuls of eggs were served up Thursday morning with a hefty helping of gratitude.

Merchants from the Reading Terminal Market teamed up to host a breakfast.

Their honored guests were the first responders from Amtrak's train derailment.

"What we do here best is to feed people and show them how we appreciate them with our food," Elizabeth Halen, VP of Reading Terminal Market Merchants' Association, said.

There were donuts, French toast, a buffet with all the fixin's, all donated by dozens of merchants.

Back in 2010, they hosted a similar breakfast after the fatal Duck Boat crash.

Shortly after the Amtrak disaster, the merchants decided to host another one and welcomed hundreds of officers and firefighters.

"We can't always give our people raises or rewards, but if someone acknowledges you, that goes a long way also," Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Derrick Sawyer said.

The train derailment required a massive response. First responders put their own lives on the line to pull victims from the wreckage in treacherous conditions.

"It was very, very dark. You couldn't see too much of anything. It was very hazardous, you had downed wires, you had all that going on. Yet, people went to try to rescue as many as they could even though they were literally risking their own lives to do that," Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said.

Eight lives were lost in that Amtrak crash, but thanks to these first responders many lives were saved.

"What we don't know is how many lives were saved because of how well they responded. There's no way to measure that. This is just one small way of acknowledging the fine work they did," Anuj Gupta, Reading Terminal Market Manager, said.

More than 200 police, fire and emergency responders were served during the recognition breakfast.