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On 9/11 Anniversary, San Antonio Firefighters Make "Remembrance Climb"

Tower of the Americas
Ryan Loyd
/
Texas Public Radio

Much like that fateful September day 11 years ago, the skies were blue and the weather nearly perfect. But today the sound of a waterfall, bagpipes and bells filled the air instead of the deafening sound of skyscrapers crumbling.

Firefighters climbed 65 stories twice at the Tower of the Americas to match the 110 floors of the World Trade Center towers that fell. It’s the first tower climb to remember and reflect on firefighters who perished in the 9/11 attack.

“We have a lot of different events and a few of us on occasion have come out and climbed on 9/11 but this was an opportunity to really, as close as possible, put ourselves in their shoes," said Dawn Solinski, the firefighter who organized the Tower climb.

Firefighters from several departments and about 100 civilians all accepted the challenge to climb those steps with thoughts of the bravest on their minds.

Solinski said there is no tribute good enough for the 343 firefighters who died in the line of duty, but this is a great way to remember the steps they took.

“Being able to get up there and climb in all of our gear and say when our legs start burning, knowing that their legs burned too. When we feel tired and feel like we can’t go any further, knowing that a lot of them kept going and they went further,” said Solinski.

Following the climb, firefighters rang the bell representing the end of an emergency and for all firefighters to return to their quarters.

Ryan Loyd was Texas Public Radio's city beat and political reporter. He left the organization in December, 2014.