VIDEO: First Responders Participate in Annual Stair Climb for 9/11

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI)- Tupelo Fire Chief Thomas Walker rang the bill signifying the start of the Second Annual 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb at the Bancorp South Arena. The participants represented 20 fire departments from around the state.

“The Tupelo Fire Department in conjunction with the Ladies Auxillary came up with this stair climb last year and it actually equals the number of floors that the fire fighters and EMS and first responders actually traversed in the World Trade Towers, ” says Walker.

“Of it hits home being my husband is a fire fighter. And it’s just a reminder of those who went in that day knowing the chances of coming out alive was slim and they were still willing with a family at home,” says Skou.

Tupelo Fire Fighter Christian Skou is originally from Denmark and has been with department for four years.

Among the many fire departments that sent representatives was Columbus. Baron McKee has been with the department for six months. He says this event provided great training.

There were plenty of volunteer fire departments taking part in this event. Anthony Mitchell is with the Richmond Volunteer Fire Department.

As these fire fighters climb these stairs they understand that every a burning building they put their lives on the line just like those fire fighters did on 9-11.

Another group of participants signed on a different dotted line, to serve in the United States Marine Corps.

Staff Sergent Mark E. Berger has been in seven years, and helped recruit some of the new recruits.

Marine recruit Marina Dale of Tupelo had the honor of being the standard bearer for the group soon to ship out to Paris Island for Marine basic training.

After the climb, participants remembered the fallen of 9-11.