ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VA - As our country unites to commemorate the September 11th terrorist attacks, Albemarle County Fire Rescue and Charlottesville Fire Department will come together to honor and remember the lives lost with a stair climb event at Monticello High School. Career and volunteer firefighters from both departments, their families, and members of the community will begin climbing stairs promptly at 8:46 am to memorialize the first tower being struck. Throughout the morning, they will recognize significant time points from that day in 2001 with moments of silence.
“Amongst the devastation on September 11, 2001, we witnessed the courage and bravery of first responders who, without hesitation, rushed in to save those in need,” says Albemarle County Fire Rescue Chief Dan Eggleston. “Events like this allow our community the opportunity to pause to remember those who lost and gave their lives.”
Each year, stair climb events are held across the country to honor and pay respect to the 343 firefighters who gave their lives on 9/11/2001. These events are memorials to the trek those first responders made into and up the World Trade Center buildings.
"This year’s climb is another opportunity for our first responders to demonstrate that 'We Will Never Forget,'" adds Dr. Hezedean A. Smith, Charlottesville Fire Department Chief.
The attacks on September 11th took 2,977 lives. Since that time, countless first responders have faced post-traumatic stress, cancer, respiratory disease, and long-term pain. The fire service was forever changed on that day and continues to make strides in cancer risk reduction, mental health and wellness, and improved personal protection equipment. The lessons learned from the attacks and the two decades that followed are improving firefighters' lives now and into the future.
We invite members of the media to attend and observe as our departments honor with respect the lives lost and those still affected by that monumental day.
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