The sky over Sanford Stadium was still dark when the first footsteps echoed against the concrete steps. At 6 a.m., some 150 University of Georgia ROTC cadets, as well as firefighters, police officers, and community members, began their climb — not for fitness, but for remembrance.
For the second year, UGA’s Army and Air Force ROTC units, joined by Athens-Clarke County Fire and Police, Oconee County Fire Rescue, and UGA Police, honored the fallen of September 11, 2001, with a memorial stair climb. The event marked the 24th anniversary of the attacks that claimed nearly 3,000 lives.
‘A small act’
Each participant retraced, in symbolic steps, the sacrifice of the first responders who charged into the World Trade Center that morning. To honor the 110 floors they climbed, cadets and firefighters scaled Sanford Stadium’s 120 stairs nineteen times. Some carried 35-pound rucksacks, mimicking the weight of gear worn by firefighters. Many first responders completed the climb in full turnout gear, sweat pouring but resolve unshaken.
“It’s a small act,” said one participant, “compared to what those heroes faced.”
Before the climb, the stadium fell quiet as Greg Trevor, UGA’s public safety communications and outreach coordinator, shared his story. Trevor, a 9/11 survivor, reminded the cadets and community why these steps matter. His words carried the weight of memory — of smoke, fear, and lives lost — and the responsibility of those who remember.
Remembrance
For some, like UGA Army ROTC Cadet Battalion Commander Ryan Fagan, the climb is an act of honoring a history he never personally witnessed. Born after the attacks, Fagan says he still feels the lasting impact.
“This is getting up a little earlier, sacrificing a little bit of sleep to remember incredible acts of selfless service and personal courage,” Fagan said. “As I walk up those steps each year, I can’t help but think about the brave souls who ventured up not knowing if they would ever return. I hope by partaking in this event I can take a shred of their courage and sense of duty into my career and the life I lead.”
Fagan, a finance major from Marriottsville, Maryland, plans to commission into the U.S. Army as an aviation officer after graduation. For him, the climb is not just about remembrance, but about carrying forward the spirit of service.
A family affair
For Logan Ledbetter, serving the country is a family affair. With multiple family members who served in Iraq and Afghanistan as a result of the 9/11 attacks, Ledbetter knows how important the legacy of this day is.
“My wife, father, uncle, grandma, and grandfather have served or are still serving. I think it is a strong reminder of the continuation of military service in my family. The event shows off all who serve and is an awesome opportunity to bring the community together,” Ledbetter said.
Upon completion of his two bachelor’s degrees in international affairs and Russian, Ledbetter will commission into the active-duty Air Force as an intelligence officer.
A living memorial
For Jacob Jones, Athens-Clarke County Fire Department training captain, the Sept. 11 attacks were a pivotal moment. A UGA student at the time, he was preparing for class when he saw the towers struck and immediately worried about his family in New York. The shock and disbelief soon hardened into resolve as he watched firefighters run into the towers. Within a year, he graduated, enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve and later joined the Athens-Clarke County Fire Department in 2004.
“This is something that’s almost impossible to explain to someone who has never put on the uniform or carried 80 pounds of gear toward the very place everyone else is running from,” he said. “It may sound cliché, but there’s a deep sense of pride in wearing the same gear, carrying the same equipment and feeling even a small part of the physical toll that those who made the ultimate sacrifice experienced.”
Now with more than 21 years of service, he says the 9/11 stair climb is a way to honor both the 343 firefighters who lost their lives that day and the many others who sacrificed in the years since. “Last year as I climbed, I kept reminding myself that 343 firefighters went up those stairs and never came back down. I had no excuse not to finish. It was one of the most physically demanding events I’ve ever done, but it’s also one of the experiences I’m most proud to have been a part of.”
Selfies, laughter, and camaraderie came after the last steps were climbed, but exhaustion was mingled with reverence. For Athens first responders and cadets alike, the stair climb was more than a workout — it was a living memorial.
By Savannah Peat & Cole Sosebee
