While the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb was canceled this year due to a mounting pandemic, that hasn’t stopped Southlake firefighters and police officers from honoring those who have fallen in their own way.
Earlier this week, Southlake first responders gathered at Dragon Stadium to participate in their own makeshift stair climb. After putting on 35-60 pounds of equipment and a photo of a fallen hero from 9/11 on their necks, the first responders climbed up and down the stairs 34 times to mimic the World Trade Center’s 2,071 steps. The first responders only paused twice at 9:59 a.m. and 10:28 a.m., the same time both towers fell.
“The stair climb is a very symbolic event that reminds and commemorates the significant loss of firefighters, police officers and emergency medical technicians at the World Trade Center 19 years ago,” Southlake Fire Chief Michael Starr says in a Southlake DPS Facebook post. “It is an extremely emotional and physical demanding effort that honors these fallen heroes.”
Southlake Fire Prevention officer Renni Burt says she’s grateful to Carroll ISD for allowing their firefighters and police officers to participate in this tribute on their stadium. She says the Young Men’s Service League helped first responders with their climb by providing water and assistance when they needed it.
“We now have a generation of people who weren’t yet born when the attacks occurred,” Assistant Police Chief Ashleigh Casey says. “It’s more important than ever for us to honor and remember the sacrifices made by all the police officers, firefighters and EMS personnel who died on September 11, 2001 trying to save others.”