mayor ed lee, former mayor willie brown, and both the city's fire and police chiefs led this morning's ceremonial festivities. the fountain at market and kerney served as the meeting post for survivors. today only three remain, including bill del monte, who was just months old when the 7.9 magnitude quake hit. what's it like to be here this morning? >> well, i'm a hero for a day. >> reporter: del monte grew up in a city that was forced to rebuild itself. decades later, he says there's nowhere else he'd rather be. >> we've got everything here in the bay area. if you want waters, mountains, snow. >> reporter: the crowd followed the festivities to 20th and church streets to spray paint the golden fire hydrant. it was the only working hydrant in the city known for saving the churches in the mission district from the fires that followed the quake. >> it was really special. my grandmother was here when the city was rebuilding. >> reporter: more than 3,000