Heroes of a Day of Horror : Ceremony: Board of Supervisors and victims of Jewish Center shootings salute those whose courage saved lives at the Granada Hills preschool.

They came from all walks of life--police officers, paramedics, high school students and rabbis--to be honored Tuesday as heroes for their actions on a day of horror.

Dozens of people were recognized by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for aiding others on Aug. 10, when a gunman opened fire at a Granada Hills day care center, injuring several, and then allegedly shot a postal worker to death in Chatsworth.

Honorees said the fear of the shootings is still fresh, but that the event showed something else is taking its place.

“This man made a statement about a wake-up call to America,” said Ismail Ileto, the brother of slain postal worker Joseph, referring to suspect Buford O. Furrow Jr. “Now all the different communities and agencies are coming together to address this hate crime, and I pray that my brother will be the last victim of those violent acts.”

Those honored included a maintenance worker who carried wounded 6-year-old Joshua Stepakoff to safety, paramedics who rushed wounded children to local hospitals and police officers who combed the area and comforted terrified residents.

“Each and every one of them played a critical role in ensuring that the loss of life was minimized,” said Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, who arranged the awards with Supervisor Mike Antonovich.

Antonovich said the officers “showed the true meaning of courage under fire.” The ceremony, he said, showed “we will not tolerate or succumb to the evils of bigotry.”

Mindy Finkelstein, 16, who was shot in the leg in the rampage at the North Valley Jewish Community Center, is now out of the hospital and walking on crutches. She took the opportunity to thank the officers and paramedics involved, some of whom she had not seen since the shooting.

“Thank you to the police officers and everyone who was there in less than five minutes,” she said. “It was amazing.”

After the ceremony, she said: “It was really nice to see everyone come together.”

Lauren and Alan Stepakoff, Joshua’s parents, also talked to numerous officers and paramedics they had not seen for weeks, and others who have become regular visitors as Joshua recovered from his severe wounds.

“It was wonderful, seeing them and being able to thank them,” Lauren Stepakoff said.