ROTC Cadets, UAPD and Fayetteville Firefighters, Police Commemorate Sept. 11 With Stair Climb
A firefighter crosses the field of Reynolds Razorback Stadium early on the morning of Sept. 11, 2018.
On Tuesday, Sept. 11, well before dawn in the foggy chill, approximately 200 people got up and made their way to Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium to mark the 17th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, in which 2,977 people were killed.
The public servants who died that day included 343 firefighters, 23 police officers, and 37 Port Authority officers who were killed in New York City. Another 125 worker were killed at the Pentagon.
A full complement of approximately 70 Air Force ROTC and 90 Army ROTC cadets and cadre joined members of the University of Arkansas Police Department, the Fayetteville Fire Department, Fayetteville Police, and special guests for the sixth annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb.
The event began at 5 a.m., with each participant climbing up approximately 2,000 steps, representing the 110 stories the first responders scaled in the World Trade Center towers on Sept. 11.
Some participants carried packs weighing in the range of 40 to 60 pounds to represent the equipment the firefighters wore, while some carried a badge or card representing a first responder whose life was lost that day.
"While our cadets are too young to remember the attack in 2001, they fully understand the importance of honoring the victims and the first responders who did everything they could to save them that day," said Lt. Col. Marc E. Wolfe, U.S. Air Force.
Contacts
Cat Donnelly, administrative specialist
Air Force ROTC
479-575-3651,
cedonne@uark.edu