ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – More than 2,000 steps. Each one a tribute.
Firefighters, first responders, and community members are gathering at Truist Park Saturday morning to honor the 343 firefighters who lost their lives in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The annual Patriot Day 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb, hosted by the Atlanta Braves Foundation, Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund, and Georgia Fraternal Order of Leatherheads Society, brings participants together to climb more than 2,000 steps — symbolizing the 110 flights of stairs that New York City firefighters ascended inside the Twin Towers.
Climbers also receive a lanyard with the name and photo of someone who died on 9/11, carrying it with them throughout the climb as a personal act of remembrance.
A piece of steel from the World Trade Center is also displayed at the ballpark, serving as a solemn reminder of the day’s significance.
Opening ceremonies begin at 8:30 a.m. and include a National Anthem performance by Captain Ben Holley of Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services, a moment of silence, and a symbolic “missing man” flyover. The stair climb will start at 9 a.m.
For those unable to attend in person, donations can be made online to benefit Georgia firefighters and their families.
Proceeds from the event support Georgia firefighters and their families through scholarships, medical emergency grants, lifesaving equipment, and training.
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