On September 11th, a firefighter at the gym strapped on his full gear—helmet, oxygen tank, boots—and began climbing the stair machine. Sweat poured down his face as he pushed for over 30 minutes.
When asked if he was training for a test, he replied softly: “110 floors. 30 minutes, 10 seconds. For the 343 brothers who never came back down.” It wasn’t just exercise; it was remembrance.
Each year, firefighters across America repeat this climb, not for applause or records, but to carry the memory of those who gave everything. Some climbs are about reaching the top. This one is about never forgetting.