Thousands climb Red Rocks stairs to honor fallen 9/11 firefighters
By Lynne Marsala Basche; courtesy photos
On the 15th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, approximately 2,500 firefighters and community members gathered at Red Rocks Amphitheatre to honor and remember the people touched by that day.
Each participant was given a card with the photograph of one of the first responders who died on September 11, and after a ceremony timed to correlate to the attacks, climbers began their untimed walk. The route was designed to equate to 110 stories, which was the height of the World Trade Center, and participants walked nine laps around the amphitheatre.
Proceeds from the stair climb benefited the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, which provides counseling services to friends, families and co-workers of the fallen New York Fire Department firefighters, as well as to the firefighters that survived the tragedy.
With each step, firefighters in full gear, along with family, friends and community members, thought about the sacrifices made on September 11 and came together for a day of reflection and remembrance.
Thousands of people, including Castle Pines residents Sherri Rumminger (left) and Lynne Basche (right) came together at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on September 11 to honor those impacted by the tragedy.
