Two of the tallest buildings in Fort Worth are now signing up teams for a stair climb in honor of first responders killed in the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. City Center Fort Worth will hold a memorial stair climb on Saturday, September 9.
Police, fire departments and paramedics are now registering teams who will climb the stairs of the 36-story Bank of America Tower three times to match the 110-story climb crews would have made at the World Trade Center.
City Center Fort Worth held the stair climb for the first time in 2022.
"It was an incredibly moving moment to watch these first responders from all departments, police, fire, EMTS," says City Center Chief Executive Johnny Campbell. "That's, by the way, consistent with what happened September 11."
The event will start at 8:46 am September 9 to match the time the North Tower was hit. A pipe and drum band will play Amazing Grace, then the climb will start at 8:47.
A moment of silence will follow at 9:03 to match the time the South Tower was hit. Another moment of silence will follow at 9:37 to mark the time the Pentagon was hit.
Moments of silence will also follow at 9:59, marking the collapse of South Tower, 10:03, marking United Airlines 93 crashing in Shanksville, PA, and 10:28 to mark the collapse of North Tower. Following each moment of silence Fort Worth Fire Engine #1 will sound its siren.
"This is a great way for us to help people understand, carry on the legacy and tell that story to those who maybe have only heard it in school as a history lesson," Campbell says.
Teams of first responders are paying $40 for registration. The money raised will be donated to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the Brotherhood of the Fallen.
People are urged to watch the climb; seating will be set up along Commerce Street. Campbell says watching police, fire and paramedics run up more than a hundred flights of stairs with their equipment calls attention to the work they do every day.
"We rally around those who are first responders today who are still on that front line ready to do whatever's necessary," Campbell says. "When you watch these guys climb those stairs, it's a real commitment, but these guys are prepared to do it. They're in shape, and they're prepared to do it."
A piece of steel from the World Trade Center will also be displayed.
The stair climb is not a race. Each team will carry the picture of a first responder who died during the attack.
When teams finish the climb, they will ring a fire bell and add the picture of the person they represent to a memory board.
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"To be out there to support these guys who are out there today is super-important," Campbell says. "We depend on these people, we believe in them, and we know they're there, but it's a little different to get a really good picture of what that commitment, sacrifice and danger around it really is."
Campbell says a lot of departments from around North Texas have signed up teams to participate and some from other parts of the state have signed up, too. Those who would like to join can learn more at http://citycenterfw.com/9-11-memorial-tower-climb/ .
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