Community | Events | NewsSeptember 06, 2024

Memorial Stair Climb Slated for Sept. 11

Written By: Ian Silvester

The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Army ROTC, Lion Company, will honor the lives of those lost on September 11, 2001, with a memorial stair climb.

Anyone is welcome to participate in the climb, and cadets anticipate members from the Fort Smith and Van Buren police and fire departments attending. The memorial stair climb will begin at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, September 11, at the Stubblefield Center, 5402 Kinkead Ave., Fort Smith. It is expected to conclude by 7:30 a.m.

The memorial climb will consist of 110 flights of stairs across a serpentine pattern in memory of those lost and those who heroically assisted in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks 23 years ago.

UAFS ROTC cadet Raeghan Weddle, a junior psychology major, said she is inspired to climb to preserve the memory of those involved and create bonds across the community.

“I’m climbing to commemorate the tragic events that shook the whole nation. It’s important that we continue to acknowledge what happened. … We will have different community groups coming together to remember as one,” she said.

This year is the 23^rd anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center buildings and the Pentagon, which claimed the lives of 2,937 people. Forty more died in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, when United Airlines Flight 93 passengers attempted to overthrow hijackers.

LionHeart – a UAFS student-led philanthropic organization – is providing water for climbers. Climbing in full gear – emergency equipment, weighted plates, or weighted rucksacks – is encouraged but not required.

Media: Contact Cadet Victor Steffen, ROTC Company Commander, at 479-206-4857.

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• ROTC
• LionHeart
• 9/11