LANCASTER, Pa. — Hundreds of firefighters gathered at Clipper Magazine Stadium for the 14th annual Lancaster 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb on Sunday.
Coordinator Scott Yuill said the event offers an opportunity to reflect and remember those who are no longer here.
“Everybody promised to never forget when it happened, and we haven’t forgotten,” Yuill said.
The event honors the 343 firemen killed during the World Trade Towers collapse.
“A fire department in Denver Colorado started it and it spread to [our] foundation as a way of raising money,” Yuill said.
That foundation is the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, which honors firefighters killed in the line of duty and provides grief support for families.
Jimmy Fannin Jr. with Chaplain Corps of Lancaster County has climbed since 2016 and is a third-generation firefighter; this year, he climbed with his 13-year-old son.
“It’s different for those of us who were alive, either as adults or maybe high schoolers, during that time [and] got to see and really feel what it’s like to experience that with our country,” Fannin said.
Climbers begin their ascent on the baseball field and traverse up and down the stands until they climb the equivalent of 110 stories.
Some families made signs to cheer on loved ones, while some wore the photos of those who died on their uniforms.
Fannin hopes Sunday’s climb inspires the next generation of heroes.
“None of us are going to live forever, and so as we continue to pass the torch down the generations, it’s great to see young guys and gals coming up and wanting to serve others through emergency services,” Fannin said.