A small gesture to honor a huge sacrifice
Photo courtesy of JOHN MILLER Local firefighters and community members gather at the base of the stairs in Wallace on Sept. 11.
Fire crews make their way down the stairs after completing a cycle. Most firefighters who participated wore turnout gear to truly honor their fallen brothers and sisters.
By CHANSE WATSON
Managing Editor
WALLACE — Seventeen years later and the horrific terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, can still be felt by many. The events of that day claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people — 412 of which were emergency workers simply trying to save lives.
Every year since, individuals around the globe pay their respects to the fallen in their own ways.
Here in the Silver Valley, crews from the Idaho Department of Lands and Shoshone County Fire Districts No. 1 and 2 pay tribute to the departed by climbing stairs.
On Tuesday morning, 14 firefighters and one community member met near Seventh and Pearl streets in Wallace to climb up and down 10 flights of stairs, 11 times in a row. This distance equals out to 1,980 steps and 110 stories — the same as the World Trade Center.
Participants could be seen wearing everything from standard workout attire to full firefighter protective equipment with the self-contained breathing apparatus and a tool.
Everyone received a card of a FDNY firefighter that lost his or her life on Sept. 11 with info on each member to keep with them on the climb. These cards are handed out to keep and “NEVER FORGET.”
At the top of each climbing cycle, everybody would all gather and talk about each persons individual card.
SCFD No. 1 firefighter/EMT John Miller, who has six of these cards from the last six years of participating, was pleased with the effort put fourth by those who took on the challenge.
“I thought everything went well,” he said. “Most everyone finished all 110 flights in full gear.”
Upon completion of the 110 stories, the group did another 10 flights to honor the families, those still affected, and those diagnosed with cancer from helping in the aftermath.
Drinks and snacks were provided by Local Real Estate to help everyone refuel after the event.
This was the second year in a row that the local fire crews did the climb on 9/11 and Miller hopes to expand it even more in the future.
“Next year, we plan on inviting the public and making a route through Wallace. We want this event to be open to anyone affected that day,” he said. “The goal of the event is to remember those who gave everything to help others.”