The Wayne State College Rotract and Exercise is Medicine Clubs jointly hosted the annual "We Climb” event at Wayne State College on Sept. 11.
This was the sixth year the college and community remembered those first responders who gave their lives on 9-11, and thanking Wayne First Responders for their service.
There were about 45 participants and $150 in free-will donations collected. These will be given to Wayne First Responders with thanks for their service.
"Though I was unable to attend, I am very proud of the WSC Rotaract and Exercise is Medicine Clubs (Presidents Jackson Nordhues who serves in the National Guard, and Blaike Bryan) for their wonderful organizational work and dedication," said Dr. Barbara J. Engebretsen, Professor at Wayne State.
She shared the following narrative that was read as part of the event,
"On September 11, 2001, at 8:45 a.m. on a clear Tuesday morning, an American Airlines Boeing 767 loaded with 20,000 gallons of jet fuel crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York w.
"The impact left a gaping, burning hole near the 80th floor of the 110-story skyscraper, instantly killing hundreds of people and trapping hundreds more in higher floors. As the evacuation of the tower and its twin got underway, television cameras broadcasted live images of what initially appeared to be a freak accident. Then, 18 minutes after the first plane hit, a second Boeing 767—United Airlines Flight 175—appeared out of the sky, turned sharply toward the World Trade Center and sliced into the south tower near the 60th floor."
"We had a very strong sense we would lose firefighters and that we were in deep trouble, FDNY Division Chief for Lower Manhattan Peter Hayden later told the commission. “But we had estimates of 25,000 to 50,000 civilians, and we had to try to rescue them.”
"But probably no one realized just how bad it would be. Among the 2,753 people killed at the World Trade Center site on 9/11, 343 were FDNY fatalities. Additionally, 23 New York City police officers and 37 Port Authority officers lost their lives.
"Today, we will pause to remember those who gave their lives and honor all who risk their lives as first responders.
"The Twin Towers were each 110 floors tall. The planes struck the 80th and 60th floors, essentially blocking all access to those in the upper floors. First Responders would have done their best to rescue anyone in the 80 or 60 floors below the wreckage. An average flight of stairs is 10 steps per floor. So the total steps to climb both towers would be 800 + 600 or 1400 steps.
"Today we will climb1400 steps (6 stadium laps) in silence as we remember their sacrifice and recognize our local heroes. You may do the entire 1400 individually – or gather a team of to divide the work among you – or climb just one of the towers (3 or 4 laps). Please remain silent until all climbers are finished. Then we will recognize any First Responders attending this memorial."
