Coastal Empire firefighters mark 25 years since 9/11 with stair climb

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Nearly 500 people came together at Enmarket Arena Sunday to remember the lives lost in the September 11th attacks and honor their sacrifice, one step at a time.

Later this week marks 25 years since the September 11th attacks in New York City.

Climbers retrace the steps of fallen firefighters

343 firefighters died at Ground Zero on 9/11. 25 years later, firefighters, first responders and civilians from across the Coastal Empire honored their life-saving efforts by walking in their shoes.

Participants climbed 110 stories, or 2,200 steps, at the Savannah Professional Firefighters 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Some firefighters wore their gear, while other climbers wore weighted vests or backpacks. The climb was accompanied by the sounds of dispatch calls from the morning of September 11th.

“It hits deep, it hits deep,” said Tyler Barrett, event organizer and Savannah firefighter. “It really doesn’t even do justice, you know, the heat, the smoke conditions, the chaos.”

Barrett grew up just outside of New York City and saw her father go to Ground Zero following the attacks.

“When I climb I just try to think about really how grateful I am that I get to do this job, that we get to be here, that we get to climb to honor those firefighters and first responders,” Barrett said.

Climbers carried lanyards with names of the fallen

When climbers arrived, they were given a lanyard with a name and photo of one of the firefighters who died. When the climb felt difficult, it served as a reminder.

“Periodically I just looked down at the name, and I finished for that person right there,” said John Farrell, captain, Chatham County Fire Department.

When climbers finished, each rang a bell as a final way to carry on the legacy of the person on their lanyard.

Farrell was five years old at the time of the attacks and climbed alongside new recruits.

“Coming onto the job, guys kept the memory going, and it’s my job to pass it on still,” Farrell said.

Benedictine Military School team reflects on 2001 bravery

The Benedictine Raiders, a team from Benedictine Military School, took part in the climb together. Logan Price, a climber with the Benedictine Raiders, said the courage shown 25 years ago was on his mind as he climbed the steps.

“While they were going up those stairs, climbing knowing that they could die while they were doing this and still being able to have the, just the bravery to go and continue on and to push forward,” Price said.

Sam Malloy, with the Benedictine Raiders, said he was not alive during the September 11th attacks and only learned about them in school. He said taking part in the climb gave him a way to honor those who died.

“It kind of gives us the area to kind of think about what we are actually doing this for, it’s not just for ourselves, it’s for all the men and women that died during 9/11,” Malloy said.

Matthew Taylor, a Raider, said some team members wore weighted vests and backpacks, some up to 70 pounds, to reflect what firefighters carried that day.

“It kind of embodies what the firefighters were actually wearing that day, you know, we can’t dress up in full gear obviously, but just a little bit helps us remember little by little what they really went through and the sacrifice they made,” Taylor said.

Event has grown from 20 climbers to nearly 500

The stair climb unofficially began five years ago when Barrett and about 20 other firefighters climbed the equivalent of 110 stories in a parking garage. The following year, organizers made the event official, with 100 people in attendance.

“Over the last four years we went from about a hundred people the first year to about five hundred today, and we anticipate to continue growing, you know, being able to honor those we lost,” Barrett said.

Nearly 500 people took part in this year’s climb.

“It really just encompasses the family that we are, no matter what, we’re all here to help people, we’re all here to try to turn somebody’s day around when they’re having their worst day,” Barrett said.