YORK COUNTY, Pa. — On the 23rd anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, groups across central Pennsylvania paid tribute in their own way.
Firefighters in Upper Allen Township honored the 343 firefighters who died in New York on 9/11 by climbing the same number of stairs they did inside the World Trade Center.
The firefighters climbed 110 flights of stairs in full uniform on machines at Planet Fitness in Upper Allen Township, adding up to 2,200 stairs in total. The total matches the number of floors of the towers which collapsed on 9/11.
The firefighters' uniforms weighed between 70-80 pounds each, but those who made the climb say their challenge paled in comparison to what the firefighters dealt with inside the Twin Towers.
"Those guys went into that building with no thoughts," said firefighter Brandon Bressler. "They knew they weren't going to make it out of there, and they never once questioned why we're doing this. It's their job. That's what they do, and they did it."
In York, a service was held at the Elks Lodge that featured performances by the York Elks Chorus and speeches given in tribute to those lost.
The colors were presented by the William Penn High School ROTC by students who were not yet born on September 11, 2001. The students' instructor says the lessons of 9/11 can still be passed down to those who weren't alive when it happened.
"I had friends who lost their lives either in 9/11 or in the process of fighting a global war on terrorism, so it means a lot to me," said Lt. Col. John W. Howard, the senior instructor for the William Penn HS ROTC. "That's my major focus, how do I help future leaders to make wise decisions so hopefully we don't have to engage in conflict?"