090923 CONROE FIRE 911 MEMORIAL STAIR CLIMB

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX- Hundreds gathered in Conroe Saturday morning to honor those who lost their lives on 9/11.  The event was hosted by the Conroe Professional Firefighters Association and facilitated by the Conroe Fire Department, who allowed the group to use their training building and grounds on FM 1484.

The second annual event allowed civilians of all ages to join professional firefighters to participate, and everyone who participated wore a lanyard bearing the name, truck number, and photo of a firefighter who died on 9/11. The opening included a prayer and presentation of colors with singing of the National Anthem and Amazing Grace played on bagpipes.

Participants ranged in age from young children to someone over 90 years old. Firefighters were told they had the had the option of wearing full bunker gear for the climb, and many did just that. The training building is four stories high with a flight of stairs between each floor.  The first floor was “ground zero”, and participants returned to it and reentered the building repeatedly, since no skyscraper was readily available. As single-file participants entered the training building to begin their 60-story memorial climb, they rang a brass bell just outside the door and said the name and company of the firefighter they represented. A punch card was attached to each nametag, and a hole was punched each time the participant reached the ground again.

Last year marked the first of these events, with over 100 participants. This year, 200 to 250 were expected. The event lasted three hours, and followed the timeline of events on 9/11, stopping for a moment of silence to mark the time of each critical moment.

There are innumerable excuses even the most patriotic American would likely make for not participating, but one civilian participant is a prime example of the determination that built this country and repaired its soul after 9/11.  Janet Hudson was impossible to overlook, dressed in shorts, with one prosthetic leg. Janet not only completed the 60 flights of stairs, but It was also her second year to participate! What’s more, Janet suffered a heart attack two weeks after last year’s climb. She said she was determined to do the climb again this year, and she did. She was cheered on by her 93-year-old mom, watching from a chair outside of the building.

“I’ll do it every year I can,” Hudson said.

Taylor Coibion, one of the event’s organizers, said it was in memory of the 343 firefighters who fell on 9/11, and of the other innocent lives lost.

“Today, they’re climbing, they’re sacrificing, they’re laying down sacrifice,” Coibion said. “This is our one time a year that we decide to lay down our sweat, our blood, our tears, and lay remembrance to all of those who are giving sacrifice, not just on 9/11 but every day.”

Coibion said the participants wanted to pay tribute and make sure the firefighters, first responders and servicemen know they appreciate their sacrifice. All proceeds benefit Conroe Professional Firefighters Foundation.

“Our mission is to provide support and relief to Conroe firefighters and their families and the communities they serve,” Coibion said.

One of the things funded is professional counseling services free of charge to firefighters and their families. He said many firefighters and other first responders suffer from PTSD due to the horrific things they see, and counseling helps them to cope. The foundation also assists with “unforeseen medical bills and natural disasters”.

To learn more about CPFA, visit their Facebook page at (20+) Facebook

Видео 090923 CONROE FIRE 911 MEMORIAL STAIR CLIMB канала SCOTT ENGLE