This Friday, Alachua County Fire Rescue (ACFR) members and other public safety personnel from the region will remember the men and women who lost their lives in the events on September 11, 2001. They will climb the stadium steps at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on the University of Florida campus at 5:30 p.m. The public is invited to participate in climbing the steps and cheering on the firefighters. Social distancing is required and masks where that is not possible.
Annually, firefighters across the nation pay respects to those affected by the events on September 11th by participating in a stair climb of 2,226 steps to replicate reaching the top of the World Trade Center.
A reported 2,977 people perished in the attacks in New York City, Washington D.C., and the plane crash just outside Shanksville, PA. Of these victims, there were 343 FDNY firefighters, 23 NYPD officers, and 37 Port Authority Officers who paid the ultimate sacrifice attempting to rescue those trapped in the World Trade Center buildings.
For more information, contact ACFR Assistant Chief Michael Cowart at 352-562-6550.