EUGENE, Ore. — Nearly 700 firefighters, police officers, military personnel, and their families gathered at Autzen Stadium on Wednesday for the 3rd annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb, honoring the thousands of lives lost in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The event, hosted at the University of Oregon, combined solemn remembrance with physical endurance, as participants climbed the equivalent of 110 stories — symbolizing the fallen Twin Towers of the World Trade Center.
Remembering the Fallen
At check-in, each participant received a badge with the name, photo, and profession of a first responder who died on 9/11. The symbolic gesture ensured every climb honored an individual sacrifice.
The ceremony opened with the National Anthem, performed by Oregon Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Duane Reno of the 234th Army Band. A video presentation followed, replaying news clips and eyewitness accounts from that day nearly 24 years ago. For many, the silence in the stadium underscored the weight of the moment…