Community invited to tribute to 9/11 victims, firefighters
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on American soil and the El Dorado Fire Department and El Dorado Professional Firefighters Local 1074 are inviting the community to participate in an event to pay tribute those who died in the tragic event.
In honor of the nearly 3,000 civilians and emergency responders, including 343 firefighters, who lost their lives on that fateful day two decades ago, the EPD and EPFL 1074 are joining the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) to coordinate a 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb.
The climb will be held from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Sept. 11 at the Union County Courthouse.
“We’ve always done something in honor of 9/11 and since this is the 20th anniversary, we wanted to do something that expanded outside fire department, something community-wide,” said
Debbie Lewis, administrative assistant for the EFD.
Participants in the climb commemorate the members of the New York City Fire Department and other emergency responders who died while rushing to save others in the attacks by recreating their
emergency routes and “climbing” the equivalent of 110 stories of the former Twin Towers in the Word Trade Center
NFFF Stair Climbs are coordinated by volunteers in communities across the country to help fund programs provided by NFFF to support local families and co-workers of fallen firefighters and the Fire Department of the city of New York (FDNY) Counseling Services Unit.
Lewis said the EFD and EPFL are hoping the community will turnout in droves to take part and/or support participants in the climb, noting that a couple of EFD firefighters are training to complete the climb in full turnout gear, protective clothing that is worn by firefighters during emergency runs.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available for the event, Lewis said.
“We’re trying to get the word out so that we can get more climbers or even people to come out cheer the climbers on. It’s open to the community, anybody,” she said.
“We also want to let the community know that sponsorships are available and instead of monetary, they can do more in-kind, like donating Gatorade or water,” Lewis continued.
The event is open to 150 climbers and Lewis said six climbers have signed up so far.
Lewis reiterated that the event is open to the community and anyone who wants to participate in the climb may register online at https:// nfff.akaraisin.com/eldorado.
The registration fee is $35 and the deadline to sign up is Sept. 1.
Parents must sign a waiver for children under 18 who want to participate. Climbers are not required to complete the full 110 steps.
For more information, call Lewis at 870-881-4855.
The climb will follow the annual 9/11 Memorial that is held on the grounds of the El Dorado Conference Center. The memorial will begin at 9:30 a.m.
The memorial site at the ECC features a 700-pound piece of steel from Tower One of the WTC and a marker honoring the four Arkansans who died in the attacks: Sarah Elizabeth Low of Batesville; Malissa White, of Bald Knob; Nehamon Lyons IV of Pine Bluff; and Tom Burnett of Little Rock.