It’s been nearly 15 years since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks claimed thousands of innocent American lives and changed the United States forever.
One group of volunteers from Dewey Fire Co. No. 1 in Hellertown is planning to memorialize the firefighters who lost their lives that day with a special public event at the Saucon Valley School District Stadium on the anniversary of the attacks.
The 15th Anniversary 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb will approximate what many of those heroic first responders experienced at the World Trade Center–the scene of the greatest loss of life–before the towers fell, as they rushed in to try and save lives.
The highlight of the event on Sunday, Sept. 11 will be the stadium stairclimb equivalent to climbing 110 stories–the height of one of the Twin Towers–in memory of the 343 New York City Fire Department firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice that day.
There will also be a community worship service held, and exhibits and displays for visitors to enjoy following a 12:30 p.m. silent parade of fire, EMS and police apparatus and vehicles from Dewey Fire Co. on Durham Street to the Saucon Valley School District Campus, via Constitution Avenue.
All of the apparatus will be on display at the school district complex/stadium until approximately 2 to 2:30 p.m.
Registration for the stairclimb will begin at 7 a.m. and costs $25 (payable by cash or check made payable to Dewey Fire Company) at the stadium. Registrants will receive a t-shirt.
All proceeds from the event will benefit the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation, which honors and remembers America’s fallen firefighters, provides resources to assist survivors and works to reduce firefighter deaths.
There is a Facebook event page for the stairclimb, and the registration form is posted for download on the Facebook page about the event. As of Aug. 26 about 30 people have signed up to participate, according to the Facebook page.
A photo of Ground Zero in New York City following the collapse of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. The terrorist attack 15 years ago was the worst in United States history.
