9/11

9/11 remembrance stair climb. There were roughly 2200 steps between the Two Towers. There are 300 stairs for all 8 flights of the North bleachers at Ken Duke’s Stadium. We set out this morning with two binders waiting at the start of the first flight. Each PAX was encouraged to read a true account of a fallen hero, survivor or victim lost in the 9/11 attacks 25 years ago. Once the paragraph was read, PAX carried varied amounts of weights, either ruck sacks or kettlebells and climbed the stairs. After each set of 8 flights of stairs, PAX read another story and began again. Some of us made it all the way through the 7 1/3 sets needed to complete 2200 steps. Some of us ran out of time. All of us paid tribute to those lost and those affected as survivors of this great American tragedy. Prayers for all those lost in the tragedy of 9/11/2021. We all remember where we were when the reports started coming over the news channels. Here is our small tribute to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Never forget!

**Below is the list of stories chosen for reflection this morning:

South Tower — Welles Crowther, “the Man in the Red Bandana”A 24-year-old equities trader who was also a volunteer firefighter. When theSouth Tower was hit, Welles Crowther grabbed his red bandana, tied it overhis face, and led a group down the stairs from the 78th floor sky lobby. Heturned back again and again, carrying the injured, saving more than a dozen lives. Survivors never knew his name — only the red bandana. His body was found months later, still wearing it, alongside firefighters. He could have walked out. He chose to go back up.

North Tower — FDNY Chief of Department Peter GanciThe highest-ranking FDNY officer killed that day. A 54-year-old careerfirefighter, three decades on the job, whose father had also served. On themorning of the attacks, he was at the command post at the North Tower,directing the response. When colleagues begged him to retreat as the tower began to fall, he stayed at his post, coordinating evacuations. His body was found at the command post, still doing his job. He could have left. He didn’t.

South Tower — Kevin Williams, the Man Who Carried His Co-Worker Down 68 FlightsA 24-year-old bond broker at Euro Brokers on the 84th floor of the SouthTower. When the plane hit, he and a colleague named Stanley Praimnathwere trapped. Kevin, a former college football player, helped Stanley freehimself, then carried him down 68 flights of stairs, refusing to leave himbehind. They reached the lobby moments before the tower collapsed. Bothsurvived. He didn’t have to save anyone. He chose to.

The Pentagon — MSG Max J. Beilke, USA, RetiredA 69-year-old retired Army master sergeant who had served in Korea andVietnam. He was officially the last American combat soldier to leave Saigonin 1973. On September 11, he was at the Pentagon doing what he’d done for 15 years in retirement — helping veterans and their families. He was in a meeting on retirement benefits when Flight 77 hit. A man who spent his life taking care of those who served. He ended every talk with an Irish blessing. Rest in peace, Max. May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Flight 93 — Todd BeamerA father of two little boys, with a third on the way. On a phone line to anoperator in Chicago, Todd Beamer told her what was happening, asked herto send his love to his family, and prayed the Lord’s Prayer with her. Then his last words, heard around the world:“Are you guys ready? Let’s roll.” Thepassengers rushed the cockpit, and the plane crashed into a field inShanksville instead of the U.S. Capitol. Hundreds of lives were spared because 40 ordinary people refused to be passengers in their own story.

North Tower — Firefighter Mike WarcholaA 51-year-old FDNY firefighter from Engine 5, a 20-year veteran. Heresponded to the North Tower and was last seen heading up the stairs,toward the impact zone, as the building burned. He never came down. Hisname is on the memorial at the site where his company’s rig was parked. He was one of 343. He knew the risk. He went anyway.

South Tower — Firefighter Danny SuhrFrom Engine 216. A 34-year-old, six-year veteran. He was in the North Tower lobby when the South Tower collapsed, and a piece of debris struck him. He died at the scene, one of the first FDNY members killed that day. His brother,also a firefighter, had to be pulled off the pile by colleagues. He died doing the job he loved, hours into his shift.

The Pentagon — Lt. Col. Ted Anderson, the “Mayor of the Pentagon”A 45-year-old officer who worked in the Army Operations Center. He waswidely known around the Pentagon for his warmth and generosity —colleagues called him”the mayor of the Pentagon”because he seemed toknow everyone. He was killed when Flight 77 struck his office. A man whospent his career serving soldiers, remembered for how he treated people,not his rank.

Flight 93 — Tom Burnett, the Husband Who Called HomeA 38-year-old businessman, father of three, traveling to California. Whenhijackers took the plane, he called his wife, Deena, on a cell phone. He toldher what was happening, and together they pieced together the biggerpicture — that the attacks were coordinated. He told her he was going to dosomething. His last words to her:“I know we’re all going to die. But there’sthree of us who are going to do something about it.” He was among thepassengers who rushed the cockpit. The plane crashed in a field, not the Capitol.

Civilian Office Worker — Tina Hansen, Cantor Fitzgerald, North TowerA 45-year-old who worked on the 104th floor of the North Tower for CantorFitzgerald — the company that lost 658 employees that day, more than anyother firm. Tina was a beloved colleague and a devoted mother who hadrecently moved her family into a new home. She was at her desk when theplane hit. She was one of the thousands of ordinary people who went to workon a Tuesday morning and never came home. Her name is on the memorial, one of 2,977.

PAPD Officer — Dominick Pezzulo, Port Authority PoliceA 36-year-old Port Authority police officer, a former Marine. When the South Tower collapsed, he and two fellow officers were trapped in the concourse beneath the towers. Dominick freed himself, then worked to free his trapped partners. As he was helping them, a second collapse buried him. His last words to his fellow officers were to keep going, to get out. He died saving his brothers. He was one of 37 Port Authority police officers killed that day — the largest loss of life in a single police department in American history. May we climb as they climbed — headlong, without hesitation, and never leaving anyone behind.