New York firefighter Ed Rodriguez made his way back to DeKalb this weekend for an open house in his honor at DeKalb Fire Station No. 1.

“I was invited by the firemen,” Rodriguez said. “I made a lot of friends here the last time I came.”

Rodriguez’s last visit came in March as part of a program called “Cities Unite America and Thank New York City Firefighters.” He came here on behalf of the New York Fire Department to present DeKalb with a certificate of appreciation.

His fire station, Engine 204, was one of the many to assist victims of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Rodriguez said that everyone’s attitude changed after the attacks occurred.

“We are more aware of what can happen,” Rodriguez added.

He said his station was one of the first to respond to the attacks.

“The men are more aware of what’s carrying over on the radio,” he said. “We’ve gotten more training. Not enough, but more.”

Rodriguez attended the open house with his fiance Christina. During the open house, he was presented with a scrapbook containing photos from his last visit to DeKalb.

The book also contained drawings made for him by local elementary students and newspaper articles about his arrival.

“It was a little memento from his trip in March,” said Brian Lange, president of the local firefighters 1236, who presented the book to Rodriguez.

The scrapbook also included pictures of the DeKalb firefighters and scenes from the attacks on the World Trade Center.

After being presented with the scrapbook, Rodriguez presented an award of appreciation to Lange and the DeKalb firefighters, thanking them for all they had done.

After the open house, Rodriguez was able to tour sites in DeKalb and some places in Chicago.

“This has been a great vacation,” Rodriguez said.

There haven’t been any plans as of yet for another visit to DeKalb for Rodriguez.

“He would be welcome here anytime,” Fire Chief Lanny Russell said.