More than 1,000 firefighters, first responders and community members gathered at Truist Park on Saturday for a memorial stair climb honoring those killed in the Sept. 11 attacks.
Participants climbed the equivalent of 110 stories, matching the height of the World Trade Center towers. Organizers said this year’s turnout was the largest since the Atlanta Braves began hosting the climb five years ago.
An international show of solidarity
A group of 343 firefighters from the United Kingdom and Ireland traveled to Georgia for the event, with each climber representing one of the 343 FDNY firefighters who died on Sept. 11, 2001. Their participation added an international dimension to the observance ahead of the attack’s 25th anniversary.
The stair climb is physically demanding by design. Many firefighters complete it in full gear while carrying a photo or name, turning every flight into a personal tribute.
Other Cobb County remembrances
The stair climb is part of a wider season of remembrance in Cobb County. The Field of Flags display at Kennesaw Mountain continues through Sept. 19, with thousands of flags placed in memory of those who died in the attacks.
Sources: WSB-TV, West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service and Cobb County.
