By David Taylor / Managing Editor
It’s not a race; it’s a solemn reminder. Saturday, Mar. 29 at 6 p.m., the firefighters and the community are asked to assemble and remember those firefighters and innocent victims who were lost on September 11, 2001, during the attack on the World Trade Centers in New York. The annual remembrance raises funds to donate to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation that supports the families of fallen heroes across the nation.
The Crosby Fire ‘Under The Lights’ 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb and Walk is held at Cougar Stadium, 14703 FM 2100 with onsite registration beginning at 5 p.m., an opening ceremony, and the climb begins promptly at 6:10 p.m.
In just their first two years, the Crosby fundraiser has exceeded expectations.
“We’ve had a goal of $10,000 each year,” said District Chief Warren Thompson, “and we have exceeded that with $23,000 total. We’re already on our way to meeting and exceeding that goal again this year,” he said.
It gets exciting when the start begins. Last year, there were firefighters from six different departments that joined the climb.
“We were the first department that was sanctioned in the state of Texas to do a climb with the foundation,” Thompson pointed out. Stair climbing events occur across the country throughout the year.
The money doesn’t go just to firefighters’ families who lost loved ones during 911.
“These funds assist fallen hero’s families across the country,” Thompson said. The foundation has been giving out money since 1992. Crosby has been so fortunate in that they have only had one Line of Duty Death (LODD) since its inception.
The stair climb replicates the climb firefighters had to make with full gear on to reach the top of the World Trade Center’s 110 stories. Many participating firefighters and community members, if they choose, are outfitted in full gear to do the climb, while others choose to walk the track the equivalent of steps.
“It takes about 12 trips around the track to do that,” Thompson said.
As they walk or climb, each participant is given a tribute badge of one of the 343 firefighters killed on 9/11 to remember and pay tribute.
“The climb is on the home side bleachers, up and down four times,” he said. At the completion of their climb, participants walk to the east end of the stadium where they stand before the color guard who rings the bell signaling the end of their climb.
On-site registration and check-in are hosted on the visitors’ side of the stadium at 5 p.m.
“The donation is $35 for adults and children can come in for free with their families and participate if they’d like,” the district chief said.
Paying participants receive a badge, a T-shirt, and a challenge coin to commemorate the event.
Online registration continues now until midnight the day before the event by visiting their event website at https://nfff.akaraisin.com/ui/crosby25.
“Once they’re complete, they’ll keep the badge. Then they can research that individual that they climb for,” Thompson said.
The event continues to grow as Crosby and surrounding communities support the firefighters. The Crosby High School band will play music and start the event with the national anthem.
“This year the RE/MAX Skydivers will fly into the stadium bearing the U.S. flag and also carrying in one of our helmets,” Thompson said.
To register, visit https://nfff.akaraisin.com/ui/crosby25.