MANHATTAN, Kansas (WIBW) – The Midwest Dream Car Collection showed gratitude to local first responders by hosting a First Responders Day on Saturday.

The event ran from 10 a.m. to noon and featured emergency vehicles, equipment and first responders from Manhattan and Riley County police, fire and EMS.

Manhattan residents, families and children flocked to MDCC Saturday morning to ride in the vehicles, which included several patrol cars, fire trucks and the Riley County Police Department SWAT vehicle.

Doug Meloan, director of vehicle operations and curator of the Midwest Dream Car Collection, said the event is an adaptation of an event they have held over the past few Januarys.

“This is our fifth year doing this, it used to be a Cars and Cops event in January,” Meloan said. “This year we decided to expand it in August and invite all of our emergency responders and first responders. So we have representatives from the Riley County and Manhattan Police Departments, Riley County EMS and Riley County/Manhattan Fire Department.”

Sherri Minick, director of events and programs, said the event is a way for the Midwest Dream Car Collection to give back to the community’s first responders.

“This is our way of simply saying thank you to these heroes of our community,” Minick said.

“I think they do so much for the community, often behind the scenes,” Meloan added. “I don’t think people realize how much work they do for their education and training.”

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