Climbing for 9/11: Why We Walk

In between September of 2013 and 2015 my I saw my former high school English teacher, who I am close friends was posting on social media about this event she was taking part in called the 9/11 Stairclimb. She informed everyone following her that the event was a fitness and commemoration tribute to the rescue workers who perished at the World Trade Center on September 11th 2001. I thought it sounded like an interesting event to take part in because 9/11 had a big impact on me my whole life growing up. In 2021 on the 20th year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks I would finally become active in the 9/11 Stairclimb.

I remember exactly where I was on September 11th 2001. I was in my third grade class at Seawell Elementary In Chapel Hill, North Carolina. All of our teachers took us outside and told us what was happening and when we saw it on television the terror and destruction was quite clear. We all know how 9/11 impacted and changed the world. That day had a tremendous impact on me as well. I followed the history and effects of that day in the years after to the point where it was a trait about me that people closest to me always noted. It’s always been important to me that people remember, honor and preserve that door, so when the chance came for me to do my part in honoring and keeping the legacy of that day alive I decided to do my part.

By August of 2021 I realized of course that not only was the 9/11 anniversary coming around, but it was also the 20th year anniversary, a landmark year. I felt like it wasn’t enough to just talk about it or write a social media post, I felt like a needed to take an active part in helping to preserve the memory of September 11th, 2001. So I asked my former teacher and mentor Tara Pidgeon was she going, where was it located and how do I get registered to participate. Once she gave me the 4-1-1 I was in. On Saturday, September 11th, 2021 I arrived at the 9/11 Stairclimb in downtown Greensboro, North Carolina at 7:30 a.m. I arrived at the Stairclimb that morning and see that the entire street is blocked off because that’s how major the event will be. I see a bunch of fire trucks and police cars surrounding the area and the park we registered at was already filling up with people. The routine of the Stairclimb was we were gonna climb up one of the biggest parking garages downtown 11 times in a row because that would equate to the number of floors in the twin towers that the rescue workers climbed on 9/11.

Something we also had to do was take a picture of one of the deceased firefighters who perished on 9/11 and wear their picture on our shirt. The two firefighters pictures I looked for was Orio Palmer and Ronald Bucca because they were the only two rescue workers who made it to an impact zone of the towers. At first I figured someone had already taken their pictures but to my surprise I found Ronald Bucca’s picture in front of me and I clipped on my shirt with a good feeling in my heart that I was gonna honor him the right way.

After getting registered I ran into my former teacher Tara. She was with a big group of her new students and her children who had also come to take part in the Stairclimb. By this time more than a hundred people were at the event with more and people showing up to participate. Many police officers and firefighters were also there to participate as well. As the Stairclimb began the mayor of Greensboro was there as she always has been every year and she gave some opening statements to commence the Stairclimb and after a performed rendition of the national anthem, we began the Stairclimb. I began the Stairclimb while listening to my playlist of 9/11 inspired tribute music playing on my iPod as well as talking to a lot of the people around me while participating.

As I we began our climb I was definitely enjoying the journey. I really felt like I was contributing to something very meaningful and important. Though it was physically challenging we all kept going. I think we all felt the determination to keep going by thinking about all the rescue workers who made the choice to keep going that day and saved lives by giving their own. For a moment I got teary eyed walking with Ronald Bucca’s picture on my shirt because he really is one of my heroes and it felt good knowing that I was paying proper respect to him. The icing on the cake in all of this for me was I finished my climb at exactly 10:28 a.m. which is what time the north tower of the World Trade Center collapsed. When it was all over I did a victory lap with a smile and a feeling of satisfaction that I had properly honored the heroes of September 11th, 2001.

In the two years since I first attended that Stairclimb back in 2021, I have attended the Stairclimb every time it has been hosted since. With every new year something new and meaningful comes with the experience. At all of these Stairclimbs I’ve been given the privilege of meeting civilians, police officers and firefighters who were at the World Trade Center on September 11th 2001. They all have shared their stories and journeys with me and they always express how much it means to them that people participate in these events every year and that in and of itself is heartwarming.

The reason why we walk these stairclimbs and why they are important is because they are an important reminder of what was sacrificed on September 11th 2001. This walk is how we preserve the important memories of those who were lost and the lessons that were learned on that terrible, but defining day. This how we keep the heroes 9/11 alive. We continue the walk of the life saving journey they went on that fateful morning with our walking and in doing so we make sure the spirit of the selfless sacrifices they made live on forever.

~~Dedicated to all the heroes of September 11th 2001 and everyone who walks in their memory.