University of Georgia’s Memorial Stair Climb Honors 9/11 Heroes
Marking a solemn milestone, the University of Georgia will host its third annual memorial stair climb at Sanford Stadium to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. This poignant event, scheduled for Friday morning, serves as a tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of first responders on that fateful day.
Participants, including UGA ROTC students and local first responders, will ascend 120 stairs in Sanford Stadium 19 times. This symbolic ascent reflects the 110 stories that first responders courageously climbed in the World Trade Center 25 years ago.
During last year’s event, the stair climb saw 150 ROTC cadets joined by members of the Athens-Clarke County Fire and Police departments, Oconee County Fire Rescue, and UGA Police Department. Many participants undertook the climb in full gear, paying homage to the responders’ dedication.
Jacob Jones, a training captain with the Athens-Clarke County Fire Department, shared his experience from last year’s climb. “This is something that’s almost impossible to explain to someone who has never put on the uniform or carried 80 pounds of gear toward the very place everyone else is running from,” Jones expressed. “It may sound cliché, but there’s a deep sense of pride in wearing the same gear, carrying the same equipment and feeling even a small part of the physical toll that those who made the ultimate sacrifice experienced.”
This year’s memorial begins at 5:30 a.m. with the stair climb starting at 6 a.m. Participants and attendees should enter through Gate 2 at Sanford Stadium.
