9/11 Memorial Climb

Image from Wikimedia

14 years ago we all watched the same event unfold before our eyes on our televisions and computers. Most people can remember the exact place they were standing when 9/11 started. Patriot Day, as it is now called, features many events around the globe to remember the day the earth stood still. However, San Diego has a unique memorial in the 9/11 Memorial Climb.

On September 5th, thousands of people packed the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel for the fourth annual San Diego Firefighter 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb.  This event is meant to remember the firefighters, police and emergency responders that were killed in the World Trade Center collapse in 2011.

Teams of volunteers, emergency personnel and civilians climbed the hotel's more than 30 stories three times to equal the 110 stories that the first responders climbed on 9/11 to rescue civilians from the World Trade Center.

A Marine combat veteran Nathan Fletcher participated in the climb. He said, "Today as we climb the stairs, with each step we are honoring those who climbed but never came out."

The climbers each received a badge and photo representing one of 403 firefighters, police officers, port authority officers and emergency medical personnel who died in the terrorist attacks. This event is not only in San Diego, but there are 30 others that are similar across the United States.

This program raises money to assist firefighters and their families that are impacted by on-duty injuries and death. The 2015 event has raised $85,000 dollars, but the organizers are hoping to hit $100,000 in the next few weeks.

This year more than 1,100 people climbed the 110 stories. Everyone from children to military members participated in the record breaking climb.  This climb was also a memorable one in the team work aspect of the climb. The teams stayed together and helped each other out when needed. People yelled words of encouragement up and down the stairs to help people finish this important memorial.

If you want to participate in the event next year, make sure to visit the event's website to learn about how to register. You can get your friends from Ariva to create your team for the 2016 event.

Other Sources:
Fox 5
Firehouse