Firefighters Hold Annual Ceremony In Remembrance Of 9/11

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Remembering one step at a time. Friday, firefighters from Maryland to New York held their annual stair climb of 110 floors.

Alex DeMetrick reports that's how high firefighters climbed at the World Trade Center on 9/11.

It starts with a bell and a name. Three hundred and forty-three New York firefighters were lost in the World Trade Center terror attacks on 9/11.

"What you do is pick a firefighter from a certain company and you climb for him and you hold onto his card. Keep it forever," said Cory Holm, Grassonville Fire Department.

And spend the next hour or so being cheered on in the lobby of the Baltimore Hilton, only to return to the stairwell and climb enough steps to equal the 110 floors New York firefighters climbed at the World Trade Center.

"Oh, it's hard. Very hard. It's definitely a workout, especially in full gear," said Jessica Turner, Prince George's County Fire Department.

It's also an appreciation of the courage and stamina of the New York firefighters who moved up the stairwells of the World Trade Center. Then, it was life and death. Now it's to raise money for the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation---and to remember.

"It's all for the brothers, the fallen firefighters everywhere," said Lt. James Williams, Baltimore City Fire Department. "When you think of that, it's not exhausting."

Money raised by this event goes to New York's fire department and a need that still exists even after all these years.

"Through their counseling services unit, we're still supporting New York's fire department for the firefighters and their coworkers who, over these many years, still need our support," said Cathy Hedrick, National Fallen Firefighter Foundation.

Friday was the fourth annual stair climb sponsored by the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation.

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