It was a seemingly small, but deeply symbolic gesture that is becoming a tradition for owners of the Pet Brigade on Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

For the fourth consecutive year, Regis and Nancy Jackson delivered pizzas to local firefighters on the anniversary of Sept. 11 to thank them for their service.

"I don't think they get appreciated as much," Regis Jackson said. "I think it's important to take a moment and say, ‘hey, thanks for what you do.'"

The Jacksons, who also own the Pet Ponderosa Resort and Spa in Graham, delivered pizzas this year not only to firefighters at the JBLM Headquarters Fire Station, but also, for the first time, to those at Graham Fire and Rescue Headquarters.

Also for the first time this year, Papa Murphy's store owners Todd and Kelly Mulvahill accompanied the Jacksons as they delivered the 90 ready-to-bake pizzas, which were to be divided between six JBLM fire stations and four Graham stations.

The Mulvahills, who provided the pizzas last year as well, wanted to be a part of the delivery process this year, said Kelly, and brought along their new Papa Murphy's trailer to drop off the goods.

The couple owns seven Papa Murphy's stores in Pierce County and provided the pizzas to the Jacksons at a substantial discount, Kelly said. "But that's not what it's about. It's about taking care of the people who serve us and allowing them to enjoy our product."

As they helped drop off the pizzas in Graham, Todd took a moment to thank the gathered first responders. "Thank you from the heart for what you guys do," he said.

The Jacksons, whose son Matthew is a firefighter in Henderson, Nev., started the tradition as "a gesture to remind (firefighters) that we appreciate what they do all year," Regis said.