Thursday, March 28, 2024

Southlake Firefighters and Police Officers Participate in Annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb

On Saturday, September 5th, 2015 ten firefighters from the DPS Southlake Fire Department and five police officers from the Southlake Police Department will participate in the annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb in Dallas.

Southlake firefighters and police officers are climbing to “climb to remember” the 343 fallen firefighters, 70 police officers, and nine EMS personnel who were killed on September 11, 2001 when the World Trade Center Towers fell. Stairclimb

Southlake Fire Chief Mike Starr, along with Fire Engineer Robert McCallion, Lieutenants Ryan Sessums, Frank Molinets and Kevin Horn, firefighters Will Mayer, Jody Keeler, Kevin Barry, Russ Brown and John Jackson will join Southlake Police Assistant Chief Ashleigh Douglas, Lieutenant Randy Thomas, Sergeant Tyler Sewell, and Police Officer’s Weston Wood and Delaney Green for the climb.

All of these first responders have trained and prepared for months for this year’s 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Fire Chief Mike Starr said, “It is an honor for us to pay tribute to the fallen firefighters and their families. We climb to remember them and to honor their memory.”

The 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb was created to remember the 343 firefighters, 70 police officers, and nine EMS personnel who lost their lives that day. It was organized following 9/11 and continues to grow each year. This year’s climb is one of dozens occurring all across the United States. Each member of the Southlake DPS team, along with the other climbers, will wear the name and picture of a fallen FDNY firefighter, police officer or EMS worker. Assistant Chief Ashleigh Douglas said, “Participating in the stair climb is a very humbling experience. The climb allows us the opportunity to make certain these brave souls will never be forgotten.”

The Dallas Stair Climb is held at the Renaissance Tower in Dallas.  Saturday, hundreds of firefighters and police officers will join together to climb 110 stairs, the same number of stairs as the firefighters, 70 police officers, and nine EMS personnel who perished more than a decade ago.

Opening ceremonies begin at 8:00 a.m., followed by a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m., the time the first plane flew into the north tower.  Firefighters and officers will start their climb at 8:50 a.m., the time the first responders arrived at the Twin Towers.

If you would like to show your support you can come to the Renaissance Tower in Dallas to cheer on the climbers and/or if you would like to donate to the 9/11 Memorial Stair you can do so by going to http://bit.ly/1Vz8om2

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