More than 400 emergency personnel participated in the Dallas 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb on Saturday, ascending 110 flights of stairs at the Comerica Bank Tower in downtown Dallas. The event honored first responders who perished in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and those who later succumbed to illnesses connected to recovery and cleanup efforts.
The gathering commenced with a remembrance ceremony at Main Street Garden Park, where bells tolled before participants began their ascent. This year’s climb carries particular weight as the nation approaches the 25th anniversary of the attacks.
Rodney Smith, operations coordinator for the event, noted that the activity allows veteran firefighters to pass on the history of that day to newer members of the profession. He explained that many current firefighters were not born during the attacks and emphasized the importance of sharing personal experiences with the younger generation.
Participants wore photographs of fallen firefighters, police officers, or EMTs during the climb. Among them was Arlington firefighter James Fussner, who climbed for the 14th time in memory of New York City firefighter John Bergin, who died when the World Trade Center towers collapsed. Fussner stated that recalling the sacrifices made by Bergin and others helped him endure the physically demanding ascent.
New York City firefighter Joe Esposito of Rescue Company 5 also took part. Esposito lost his brother, Capt. Mike Esposito, his cousin, Frank Esposito, and 11 colleagues from his station in the attacks. He described the ongoing impact of the loss, noting that birthdays and anniversaries serve as reminders of a missing piece of his life.
