By Rosemary Godin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cape Breton Post Words of gratitude, loud applause and even tears of emotion were waiting for first responders at the end of a special parade in their honour Wednesday afternoon in Eskasoni First Nation. Organizers of the event held to express appreciation to the community’s firefighters, RCMP officers, paramedics, mental health and crisis teams were pleasantly surprised at the size of the crowd that filled the powwow grounds to say thank you. The crowd cheered and recognized not only present first responders, but also those from the past who had retired. As the crowd ate their supper, supplied by the chief and band council, or watched their children play on several inflatables in the field, awards were handed out and some tears were…