Charlotte 9/11 Stair Climb

"Firefighter Karl Joseph, Engine 207"...Ding!

"Firefighter Richard Kelly Jr., Ladder 11"...Ding!

"Lieutenant Steven Bates, Engine 235"...Ding!

 

 

The bell sounded just after the reading of the name and assignment of the FDNY member around each of the climber's necks. We were the 14th team to start climbing. As we slowly moved closer to the bell, we continued to hear names and the echoing of the bell sounding afterwards. I took my place next to the bell and read off the names of the FDNY members around my neck. Today, the new names I carried were Firefighter Salvatore Calabro, Lieutenant Michael Quilty, and Captain Vincent Brunton. (Read the Intro to this post HERE) (One of the names I carried was for The Fire Critic and another for The Iron Firemen. Also around my neck were ID tags of all of those who I have climbed for in the past. Just after ringing the bell, I glanced up at the building that we were about to take on.

The Duke Energy Center is 50 stories high and the climb consisted of us climbing 110 floors in memory of those killed on 09/11/01. Team integrity is a crucial part of this climb. The recent climbs I have done have been much smaller buildings than this one. The Richmond building was 22 stories high (You can read my account of the climb HERE), and the Nashville building was 28 stories (You can read my post about it HERE). All seven of our team members were different ages, different weights, and at different levels of cardiovascular shape. The walls of the stairs were blank, but names and pictures flashed through my mind as we climbed. We immediately exchanged words of encouragement as we climbed step after step. It was physically demanding as I remembered the last, and some of our team members were experiencing the climb for the first time. Everyone stayed together throughout the first 50 floors. As we started getting closer to the top of the building, I heard a familiar echoing in the stairwell. It was the radio traffic from 9/11 that I have listened to multiple times before. It was an emotional touch that the Charlotte Firefighters had added to this year's climb.

Sweat dripped off of my brow, my calves ached with pain, and my shoulders were exhausted. Nothing was going to stop us from starting up the second time. As rang the bell again to begin our second ascent, we were met by the members of FDNY Engine 217 standing in the entrance of the stairwell. I quickly reached in to my turnout coat and removed one of our challenge coins. I shook the hand of Battalion Chief Frank Poulin and thanked him for being there. He then glanced down at the coin that I had handed him during the handshake. (The coins were produced by NM Coin LLC. Check them out for custom challenge coins, lapel pins, decals, apparatus replicas, etc.)

My boot lifted off the ground and I placed it back on the first step as we continued our climb. (My boots were provided to me by the National Firefighter's Endowment during a monthly Officer's Club giveaway.) I felt the physical exhaustion in my body the second trip up the stairs more than the first. As we were climbing, we came across a sign that kept us focused. The sign, pictured here, tells about the crews that had made it to the 78 floor prior to the South Tower collapsing. We pushed on, knowing we were past half way complete. We made contact with each step until we reached the top once again.

The final ten floors we climbed without resting. The stairwell was more crowded than earlier, but the words of encouragement never stopped. You could hear "Good job Brother" or "Almost there Brother" throughout the stairwell as brothers of the fire service continued to keep each other focused. As we reached the 10th floor, we were handed more fluids to re-hydrant our bodies with. We remained in our sweat drenched turnouts and walked outside onto a sky lobby where our group photo was taken. After a short elevator ride to the ground level, we were greeted by our families and friends who had gathered to support us during our climb. Many of us took a few more photos before slowly removing our gear. It was official...another 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb was in the books!

The brothers from FDNY E-217 were still around talking to firefighters from throughout the nation that had gathered to participate. We slowly worked our way over towards the other three guys and presented them with an NM Coin LLC challenge coin as well. During our conversation with the guys, we listened more then we spoke. The guys told us about their knowledge of each of the names around our neck. They referenced the location of the firehouses, the shifts, and the fallen. On 9/11/01, FDNY Engine 217 lost four brothers:

Firefighter Steven Coakley, 36 years old
Firefighter Philip Hayes- Retired, 67 years old
Firefighter Neil Leavy, 34 years old
Lieutenant Kenneth Phelan, 41 years old

It was a great event, and I recommend that if you haven't participated in a 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb for you to go to the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation's website HERE and sign-up for one. The majority of the climbs are usually held around the 9/11 anniversary, but they are also held at numerous conventions and conferences throughout the year. Train, Prepare, and Remember. You may think you can't complete it, but that isn't a reason not to try. You need to make a difference in your life and experience a climb.

Thanks for RIDE BACKWARDS for their amazing workout apparel that I wore during the 5K and climb. Thanks to NM-Coin LLC for producing amazing challenge coins for us to hand out to brothers and sisters that also climbed.

Charlotte 5K and Stair Climb: Intro

The air was cold, the wind was whipping, and around 70 runners gathered on Church Street in Uptown Charlotte at the foot of the Duke Energy Center. The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Run was about to start and FDNY Battalion Chief Frank Poulin spoke in to a megaphone thanking each of the participates for showing their support. A piece of steel from the World Trade Center sat on a trailer next to the start line. The siren blast started the race, and everyone headed down the streets of Charlotte lead by a ladder truck from CFD and a CMPD cruiser. We all started running behind the three members of FDNY Engine 217 who were the grand marshals of the run. For me, it wasn't about my time, my pace, or the distance. It was about the experience. I had originally only planned on climbing in the Charlotte Firefighters 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb which started around 9am, but after seeing that the Stephen Siller 5K was at 7am...I knew I had to do it as well. Those of you who do not know who Stephen Siller is, below is an excerpt from the Stephen Siller Foundation:

"On September 11th, firefighter Stephen Siller had just gotten off the late shift at Squad 1, Park Slope, Brooklyn. He was on his way to play golf with his brothers on that bright clear day when his scanner told of the first plane hitting the Twin Towers. When he heard the news, he called his wife Sally to tell her he would be late because he had to help those in need. He returned to Squad 1 to get his gear, then took his final heroic steps to the World Trade Center. When Stephen drove his truck to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, it was already closed to traffic . With sixty pounds of gear strapped to his back, he ran through the Tunnel, hoping to meet up with his own company, Squad 1."
 

With this only being my second 5K race, I took a different approach to it. This time I did not run with music, headphones, or my cell phone. It was a time for me to reflect back on what he must have thought that day as he ran to the World Trade Center. My bib number for the race was 219, the ID number of Earl Morphew, my friend, mentor, and brother who passed away a few years ago. I chose this number in memory of him because I knew he was running right there beside of me. (You can read about how he inspired me in a post HERE) A fellow firefighter from Tennessee ran beside me the entire race. We kept up a steady pace the entire race, but had decided not to attempt the run in full turnout gear like some of the others that were racing. As we crossed the finish line, the time clock was just ticking past 26 minutes. As I crossed the finish line, I was greeted by another member of FDNY congratulating me. My parents and girlfriend also were there to show their never ending support.



Team 14 of the Charlotte Firefighters 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb consisted of Jason Bledsoe (Team Captain), KFD; Jared Lindholm, KFD; James Roseman, WPVFD; Austin Simpson, SCVFD; Candace Roark, SCVFD; Lance Bellamy, SCVFD; and myself. Each of the climbs I have participated in have had their unique challenges and experiences. All similar in nature, the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb experience is different in each city. The opening ceremony consisted of Charlotte Fire Department's Pipes and Drums band serenading all in attendance with the sounds of their bag pipe music. The organizers of the event spoke about the sponsors of the event. This climb was eventually opened up to the public, even though I believe only a few civilians climbed. They also had incorporated the number of police officers and EMS workers who were murdered on 9/11/01 by having each of those represented by a climber.

Due to previous commitments and busy schedules, The Fire Critic Rhett Fleitz and Iron Firemen Willie Wines were unable to attend. I had the pleasure of climbing in FDIC with these brothers and fellow bloggers, and there is never a dull moment when they are in town. Since they were unable to attend, they asked me to carry an ID tag for them. Our team was issued a bag of tags and t-shirts, and I was handed the photo ID tag for Firefighter Salvatore Calabro, FDNY Ladder 101. As I studied the tag, I knew nothing about Brother Calabro, yet I had seen his photo before. I have seen all the 343 faces before many of times, and most recently during my climb in Nashville. (You can read about my Nashville climb by clicking HERE.) I hurried down to the registration tent and selected a name for both of my brothers. Not knowing which one to select, I decided to select a member of FDNY based on rank. The Fire Critic is a Lieutenant in his department, so I searched through and came across Lieutenant Michael Quilty, Ladder 11. I did the same thing for the Iron Fireman as he is a Captain in his department. After a few minutes of searching, I came across Captain Vincent Brunton of Ladder 105. I returned to my team as we made our final checks of our gear, and prepared to head to the staging area.

 

During the Nashville Climb, I presented the firefighters that I traveled with from the "Model City" with a challenge coin and helmet sticker from the 9/11 Patch Project. I once again wanted to present Bledsoe and Lindholm with a small token to remember the experience with. This time, I contacted Wall Shields Co. (Click the link to view their custom wall shields, firehouse run boards, kitchen tables, etc.) about created a custom designed wall shield with the Charlotte climb integrated into the design. Within just a few days, I received a concept drawing of the wall shield. It was very unique and I knew it would be a hit. I pulled them aside just before we climbed and presented the wall shields to them. They were amazed at the laser engraved maple wall shields. They stand approx. 7 inches tall, and I personalized them with a message on the back.

We then prepared to climb...

Filling the Boot in the "Model City"

This past weekend, the Kingsport Firefighters Association Local 2270 set up at two of the grocery store locations in our area. What were we raising money for? The Muscular Dystrophy Association. The MDA has been raising money for years to help find a cure and fund research for muscular dystrophy and other neurological/muscular diseases. They have been most known for running a telethon during Labor Day weekend each year with Jerry Lewis being the spokesperson. Lewis had to step down after last year as being the spoke person, but they have a list of celebrities that help each year. The IAFF has been helping fund research for the MDA since 1954. Nationwide, firefighters volunteer their time each year to help "Fill the Boot" to fund the MDA. We will also be out this Friday and Saturday once again. Help support those in need and remember that every penny counts.