Tag Archives: September 11 memorial

I will say is that I am PROUD. I am proud that so many choose to remember...to not forget. So many have decided that the stories must be told, that the new guys/gals must understand what happened, who we lost, what we lost, AND what we gained that day.

I held on to the railing at St. Paul's and said a little prayer. I wasn't there to make a difference. I was there to complete my understanding of an event that has changed my life and I was not alone. Willie put it best: "Rhett and I made eye contact and without saying knew… “THIS” has been our destination for the past 10 years."

When he heard the news, he called his wife Sally to tell her he would be late because he had to help those in need. He returned to Squad 1 to get his gear, then took his final heroic steps to the World Trade Center. When Stephen drove his truck to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, it was already closed to traffic . With sixty pounds of gear strapped to his back, he ran through the Tunnel, hoping to meet up with his own company, Squad 1.

This past weekend there were 55 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb events across the Country. Somewhere between 12,000 and 15,000 firefighters participated in them. Special thanks to all of the volunteers who helped make them a huge success. Also a huge thanks to the companies who allowed us to climb in their buildings and to all of the businesses who donated water and other things to the climbs!

Here are videos from 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb events held this past weekend from across the Nation. They are in no particular order.

You can imagine my amazement when our department PIO contacted me about wanting to add our story to the newsletter! I was stoked. The article is about us participating in the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb in Baltimore and Atlanta. It even mentions our upcoming climb on September 11th in Greenbelt, MD.

better angels: the firefighters of 9/11 is 343 individual oil paintings of the firefighters who died on 9/11, created to honor the lives they lived and the people they loved. from betterangels911.com

As you know, Willie Wines Jr., Kevin Totten, and I climbed 110 stories as a part of the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at Firehouse Expo. We climbed with 320 others, some of whom we knew already and others who we met for the first time. The event was a huge success. All I can really say is that you have to participate in one to really understand.

The difference between us and them was that we did it in honor of them. We did it without an airpack, without fear, without trepidation. We did it to help others never forget.

I told you I love Seattle’s Fire Line. You have to check out this official blog of the Seattle Fire Department. More departments should take hold of the public relations power that the Fire Line has grasped. Firefighters from around ...