The stair climb happened throughout the day at Family Wellness in Fargo.
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The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation sponsors the climb, and the head of that organization says the popularity each year proves it’s about the brotherhood and sisterhood of firefighters.
“This year we wanted to at least double in size, so we went from 102 people last year to at least 240”, event coordinator Jason Feinstein said.
“While 343 firefighters died on 9/11, almost 10,000 [people] were rescued and assisted out of the towers”, said South Daytona firefighter Scott. Thorpe and his sister-in-law, who also is a firefighter, did the climb previous year.
Lynchburg, VA- Dozens of local firefighters and their supporters met at the Bank of the James building to honor those who lost their lives on 9/11.
“It’s always part of a competitive, athletic nature of the job, the Type-A personalities”, Petrick said. You know, when you are in the fire service, it’s one of those things you really, really start to understand more of. “It was always my dream to become a Chicago firefighter”.
Building managers have supported them and a young resident even cut the ceremonial ribbon to kick off the climb. He was too busy cheering on climbers and making sure they had everything they needed to make the event run smoothly.
Taking a break after his honor climb, Timmons said it’s hard to not think about where each of us were when the news broke that day in 2001, adding he was at work listening to the scanner feeds come across.
“You don’t have the adrenaline factor that they do today, but it’s also not as hot in here by yourself”, Monahan laughed.
As for why he created this event in the first place, his answer was clear and simple.
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“We tried to go as many flights of stairs that they did in New York”, said Justin Timmons with the Shumway Fire Department Station 2. “It’s in my blood”.
