Thursday morning, over 100 volunteers and firefighters combined to reflect and remember the tragedy of September 11, 2001 in a unique and meaningful way thanks to the Columbus 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at Crew Stadium.
The event featured a course throughout the stands that both registrants and local firefighters in full regalia embarked upon, designed to simulate the route taken by actual firefighters in New York City who lost their lives climbing up the World Trade Centers to try to save others.
"This event is designed to be a memorial tribute for the September 11 attack in New York City," said Jason Feinstein, Event Coordinator. "More importantly and more specifically, the loss of 343 firefighters from the New York City Fire Department that died that day in the World Trade Center. While they were climbing up the height of the World Trade Centers -- 110 stories or 1,982 feet -- while they were climbing up, everyone else was climbing down. This is an event to commemorate that in their memory."
After observing moments of silence at 8:46 and 9:02 a.m. -- the times at which the two World Trade Centers were struck, respectively -- participants marched around a carefully planned course that equated to those 110 stories of stairs.
"The feedback we got today was amazing," continued Feinstein, who worked with the Crew's John Rosen to make the event possible. "Everyone was very happy with the venue, the weather cooperating, the setup of the event -- everything seemed to go as planned. The feedback was very good. From a few weeks ago to only having a few registrants to having over 100, that's the feedback. People wanted to do this."
Registrations for the event benefited the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, and participants also received a ticket to the Crew's match against the New England Revolution on September 20.
