Local First Responders Climb to Remember the 9/11 Fallen

Every year that we pass by September 11th, I can't believe it - 18 years ago - something I'll never forget, and these local first responders want to make sure of it.

Last night, the eve of the New York State Fallen Firefighters Memorial Ceremony, local first responders took part in the inaugural Capital Memorial Stair Climb. Over 40 firefighters, police officers, and EMTs took to Corning Tower in Albany to honor those who bravely perished in the 9/11 attacks as well as those who passed from illnesses related to the recovery efforts.

Kyle Kearney, an Albany firefighter and one of the organizers told Spectrum News, "Whether it be a police officer or firefighter, EMT, [we] climb in their memory...to make sure we never forget what happened."

These first responders climbed the 84 floors of the Corning Tower, many in their full gear. Each of the responders had the picture of one of the fallen and their name around their neck. Once at the top, each one rang a bell and said aloud the name of the person that they carried (or helped carry them) through the climb.

Kearney further said, "The fact that they're wearing that person's photograph and that person's name around their neck when they're climbing, it's a consistent reminder they climb so we're climbing in their memory."