As a firefighter, you are required to put your life on the line to save those in need. When the tragic events of September 11th, 2001 happened in New York City, firefighters from across city rushed in without a second thought, knowing they had to do their job.
343 firefighters lost their lives on that horrible day, and while they may be gone, they are not forgotten.
This year marks the seventeenth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but firefighters across the country have continued to take this day to honor the fallen heroes.
Firefighters around the country have been doing this for years, and at 8:46 a.m. on September 11th, they started their tribute again.
Dressed in full firefighting gear, the first responders take to the stairs, whether they are in stadiums, public buildings, or even on a StairMaster in the gym, and dutifully march 110 flights.
The 110-flights represent the number of stairs in the twin towers that the brave men and women climbed to rescue the people trapped in the buildings after the planes hit.
Chelsea Renee Farmer was at her gym when she saw two firefighters taking part in the challenge and shared the video and images with the comment, "They started at 8:46 am. Two firefighters at my gym walking all 110 stories of the Wold Trade Center and back down in remembrance of 9/11 and to honor all the fallen heroes."
They aren't the only ones taking part though, around the country firefighters have been paying their respects.
Firefighters climbed the Incline in the heat today in memory of those who lost their lives on 9/11 #NeverForget #manitouincline #ManitouSprings #ColoradoSprings #visitcos #COSParks #hike #incline #firefighters #ColoRADo pic.twitter.com/wtr07UPNXK
— Manitou Incline Hike (@InclineHike) September 12, 2018
Larenceburg, Tennessee firefighter Chad Moore said that it's an important tradition to uphold. "For us, to come here to commemorate -- a lot of people have forgotten 9/11. My kids weren't even born then so we teach them about [it], but it's even more than history for us, it's a gut wrench that never leaves."
The climbers for the #911Anniversary climb to #remember the #firefighters that gave their lives 17 years ago have been arriving at the top and placing the name of the fallen in the tower. And then the #memorial bell is rung. #NeverForget pic.twitter.com/VVF5gbTEag
— Sacramento Fire (@SacFirePIO) September 11, 2018
Medford, Oregon firefighter Bracken Sharp calls the tribute humbling. "You know climbing the tower in silence with a bunch of other firefighters and just remembering, you know, those ones that climbed those towers knowing that might be their last run...," he said. "It's very humbling."
Two of our #firefighters doing the 110-storey stair climb in memory of the #LODD on 9-11 #911Neverforget #FDNY343 pic.twitter.com/JEatm7spjj
— Marc Cormier 🇨🇦 (@marcc435) September 11, 2018
The tribute is something that continues to mean a lot no matter how much time has passed.
