The University of Georgia is honoring the 24th anniversary of the World Trade Center 9/11 attacks with the second annual memorial stair climb.

Following its inaugural year, the event organized by UGA Army ROTC and Air Force ROTC welcomed some 150 cadets as well as members of the Athens-Clarke County Fire and Police departments, Oconee County Fire Rescue and UGA Police Department at Sanford Stadium. The organizers hope that total participation will continue to grow.

To honor the 110 stories first responders climbed in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, participants climbed the 120 stairs in the stadium 19 times, starting at 6 a.m.

The strenuous climb means different things to the people who run it, but participants agree this is but a small act to pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Some ROTC participants chose to add even more strain to the climb this year by carrying 35-pound rucks, a nod to the weight of the gear first responders shouldered on 9/11. Many of the firefighters who participate also do so in full turnout gear.

The climb was preceded by a short speech from Greg Trevor, UGA public safety communications and outreach coordinator and 9/11 survivor, who talked about the event and his experience.

Why they climb

Ryan Fagan wasn’t alive when the 9/11 attacks took place. That doesn’t stop him from recognizing the impact of this event and the history behind it while participating.

“This is getting up a little earlier, sacrificing a little bit of sleep to remember incredible acts of selfless service and personal courage,” he said. “As I walk up those steps each year, I can’t help but think about the brave souls who ventured up not knowing if they would ever return. I hope by partaking in this event I can take a shred of their courage and sense of duty into my career and the life I lead.”

Having heard stories of what life was like after the attacks, Fagan became determined to serve his country.

Once he graduates with a bachelor’s in finance, Fagan aims to commission active duty into the U.S. Army as an aviation officer. 

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For Logan Ledbetter, serving the country is a family affair. That’s why he believes that this event ties the university together in a special way.

With multiple family members that served in Iraq and Afghanistan as a result of the 9/11 attacks, Ledbetter knows how important the legacy of this day is.

“My wife, father, uncle, grandma and grandfather have served or are still serving. I think it is a strong reminder of the continuation of military service in my family. The event shows off all who serve and is an awesome opportunity to bring the community together,” Ledbetter said.

Upon completion of his two bachelor’s degrees in international affairs and Russian, Ledbetter will commission into the active-duty Air Force as an intelligence officer.

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For Jacob Jones, Athens-Clarke County Fire Department training captain, the Sept. 11 attacks were a pivotal moment. A UGA student at the time, he was preparing for class when he saw the towers struck and immediately worried about his family in New York. The shock and disbelief soon hardened into resolve as he watched firefighters run into the towers. Within a year, he graduated, enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve and later joined the Athens-Clarke County Fire Department in 2004.

“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,” he said. “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.”

Now with more than 21 years of service, he says the 9/11 stair climb is a way to honor both the 343 firefighters who lost their lives that day and the many others who sacrificed in the years since. “Last year as I climbed, I kept reminding myself that 343 firefighters went up those stairs and never came back down. I had no excuse not to finish. It was one of the most physically demanding events I’ve ever done, but it’s also one of the experiences I’m most proud to have been a part of.”

Written by: Savannah Peat & Cole Sosebee
Photography by: Andrew Davis Tucker
Video by: Corey O’Quinn
Web design by: Hannah Gallant