Across the nation Thursday, Americans paused to remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. At West High School, students who weren’t yet alive when the tragedy unfolded honored the victims — and the first responders who rushed toward danger — during the school’s annual stair climb.
From 9:16 to 9:47 a.m., mirroring the timeline of the attacks 24 years ago, students gathered inside Del Marcelle Stadium for a moment of silence and reflective music. They then climbed the stadium stairs, symbolizing the heroic efforts of firefighters who ascended the Twin Towers’ stairwells in an attempt to douse the flames and save lives.
“These students weren’t even alive 24 years ago, so for many, this event offers a glimpse into what that day was like,” said NBC 26’s MacLeod Hageman, who attended the ceremony…