Approximately 100 EMS ISD student athletes and community members gathered at Chisholm Trail for the second annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb honoring fallen firefighters put on by the Chisholm Trail Ranger Wrestling Team.
The idea for the event came from Jessica Fresh at Northwest High School. She had spoken about her team participating, and both Head Wrestling Coaches Jake Farley and Haley Heaton thought that was something that should be done at Chisholm Trail High School.
Donations were collected, and all of the proceeds totaling $655 went to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. According to their website, their mission is to honor America’s fallen fire heroes; support their families, colleagues, and organizations; and work to reduce preventable firefighter death and injury.
Last year, Tarrant County College (TCC) Lead Fire Instructor Bill Pearson brought two instructors, and approximately 20 trainees to participate. They were set to take part again this year, but extenuating circumstances prohibited them from participating.
It was a true community event, as Kona Ice and Red’s BBQ were present, vendors lined the stadium featuring cornhole, Chisholm Trail Ranger gear, and more.
Coach Farley and Coach Heaton gathered everyone at the 50-yard line for a moment of silence and to reflect on the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001.
Coach Farley said that while he couldn’t remember where he was a week ago, he remembered exactly where he was on that day 22 years ago.
“In the lobby at the dentist office, they had a TV that was running non-stop coverage of the tragic event,” he recalled. “I was too young to fully comprehend it. Now at 32, and with a brother who is currently working as a firefighter, I recognize the importance of commemorating those unbelievably courageous acts displayed by the 341 firefighters who sacrificed their lives that day.”
Both coaches spoke about leaving a legacy, and spending a lifetime desiring to leave behind a great legacy.
The stair climb was a self-paced 2,000 step (20 times up & down) equivalent to the height of the World Trade Center. After each participant completed the climb, he or she rang a bell and signed a banner commemorating their participation.
“Sometimes a legacy is made so profound, through acts of sheer courage and selflessness that the legacy lives on forever,” he said. “It has been 22 years since 9/11 and we will continue to memorialize and honor the legacy left behind by those fallen firefighters. As we climb these stairs, let each step be an extension of the legacy left behind by each fallen first responder on that day.”
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