The 343 firefighters who lost their lives on September 11 are being honored with memorials around the country today.
In Sacramento, volunteers climbed 110 stories in honor of the men and women who perished during the terrorist attacks 12 years ago today.
The 9/11 Memorial Climb was held at the Renaissance Tower. The tower is only 28 stories tall so volunteers had to walk up and down the staircase four times. Each of the participants dressed in full gear and carried one of the names of the 343 firefighters who lost their lives on September 11 on their backs.
Similar events are being hosted in Dallas, Denver and several other cities across the United States.
Captain Trey Nelms, who participated in a September 11 stair climb in Nashville, said that he was honored to make the trek for fallen firefighter Captain Patrick Brown.
Nelms said : “He was one of the most decorated on the job there. He’s just one of those guys everybody liked and wanted to be like. Super guy.”
Richmond Ambulance Authority paramedic Brian Hupp did the 110 story climb in Virginia.
Hupp said : “On September 11th, the firefighters who were responding were not responding to the attacks on 9/11. They were responding to a report of a fire… They were going to a call, something I do ten times in one of my shifts, and could very easily be in the same position as those guys. And they, of course, paid the ultimate sacrifice.”
The 343 firefighters who lost their lives on 9/11 have also been honored around the country in public memorials, silent prayers, and internet messages. On Twitter, the terms “Never Forget” and “Remember 911” have been trending all day.
R I P to the 343 FDNY firefighters who went in the towers to save lives knowing they wouldn’t come out pic.twitter.com/cIl2hDnPPL
— andrew fedel (@andrewfedel) September 11, 2013
never forget the 343 brave firefighters and paramedics that died saving lives.. #NeverForget #343 pic.twitter.com/K8uCTQd0wv
— Dylan Kellner (@DKellner88) September 11, 2013
Today is a hard day for Firefighters the world over. We all know we would have done exactly the same that day. #343 pic.twitter.com/PwLsisI5my
— F31 Kingsland Fire (@F31Kingsland) September 11, 2013
[Image Via Wikipedia ]