KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas — Several Kaufman County firefighters participated in the 5th Annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at the Renaissance Tower in Dallas, Texas, on Saturday — signifying their commitment to “never forget” their brothers’ ultimate sacrifice in the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City.
KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas — Several Kaufman County firefighters participated in the 5th Annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at the Renaissance Tower in Dallas, Texas, on Saturday — signifying their commitment to “never forget” their brothers’ ultimate sacrifice in the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City.
The firefighters carried the names of one of 343 fallen firefighters to the top of the Renaissance Tower and were joined by law enforcement officers and EMS who represented the 70 law enforcement officers and 9 medical technicians who were also killed.
“It was a privilege to be a part of the memorial and an experience I will remember for the rest of my life,” Forney Fire Department volunteer firefighter Jason Carter told inForney.com.
Participants began in the basement of the Renaissance Tower early Saturday morning and climbed to the 54th floor, rode the elevator back down to the basement, and climbed the tower again — representing the 110 floors of the World Trade Center Twin Towers.
In addition to over 50 pounds of bunker gear, firefighters wore personal alert safety system devices — a motion-sensing device used by firefighters to summon help — during the climb which were activated at 9:59 a.m. and 10:28 a.m. — signifying the times the towers collapsed.
At the end of their climb, the accountability tags, representing each emergency responder, was placed on an accountability board and an Honor Guard member rung a bell.
“For me personally, being a veteran as well as a firefighter, there’s a lot of symbolism in what we did,” said Carter. “People put a lot of effort into memorializing this so we don't forget it.”
“I will be going back as long as my body will let me do it,” he said.
This year, every alternate climber also participated and were a representation of the individuals who have since died from sickness or 9/11-related cancers.
Participating from the Forney Fire Department were Bradley Lewis, Jason Carter, Tyler Sullivan, and Joshua Hillis. Joining them were firefighters Drew Hamrick and Casey Morris from the College Mound Volunteer Fire Department; Chris Glover, Jeff Jackson, and Tom Smith from the Kemp Volunteer Fire Department; and Joshua Farmer from the Terrell Volunteer Fire Department. Forney High School graduate Jared Gilbert, a firefighter with the Duncanville Fire Department, also participated.
