On a crisp September morning, together with students from St. Thomas of Villanova Catholic High School, LaSalle firefighters commemorated the anniversary of 9/11 terrorist attacks - and rather than holding a moment of silence or an assembly, the group climbed more than 100 flights of stairs behind the school bleachers.
This being the 24th anniversary of the attacks, approximately 60 students and a dozen firefighters took part in the commemoration, which claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people, including 443 first responders.
Each step represented the difficult climb firefighters made in the Twin Towers twenty years ago.
"It's to honour those who knew what they were probably walking into but didn't, and they did, and they never came home.” said Ryan Petrozzi, a member of the LaSalle Fire Service. Knowing that that was the ultimate sacrifice that they gave, I think today the equipment might feel a little bit lighter,"
The annual climbs, held across North America, serve as a reminder of the sacrifice of first responders.
“It’s a somber day. But at the same time, it’s a moment to honour the selfless sacrifice that those brave souls made that day,” he said, his voice steady with conviction as he addressed the student body. “If we can share that message today with a generation that wasn’t alive, they can carry that story forward.” Petrozzi shared.
Petrozzi approached the school and Villanova principal Danielle Desjardins with the idea of participating in the memorial stair climb.
For Desjardins, the 9/11 experience was deeply personal, and they were eager to participate.
As a teacher at Assumption College, just minutes from the Ambassador Bridge, she vividly remembered the fear and uncertainty that impacted her students as news of the attacks broke.
"I remember vividly, being so close to the Ambassador Bridge, getting a very quick lockdown. I remember the fear my students shared. They had cell phones at that time, and I remember them wanting desperately to text their parents, and their parents trying to get in touch with them," recalled Desjardins.
Now, two dozen years later, Desjardins saw the stair climb as more than just a tribute. “We felt that not only is it a great way to memorialize those who have sacrificed their lives in helping others but also to raise awareness of the role of first responders in our community,” she explained, believing the lesson is a meaningful connection for students born after the tragedy to learn about the event and how it shaped history.
“It came at a pretty powerful time, given world events, and I think it shows that there’s inherent goodness in humanity,” she explained.
Max Gulisano, a Grade 10 student, who participated, stated, “It was very hard work, but it’s very meaningful for what it represents.”
“In my mind, I was just thinking of all the people, what they went through. They definitely had it a lot harder than me, so I just kept pushing on and on.”
In that shared effort, the high school and the LaSalle Fire Department forged a living memorial, ensuring that the lessons and sacrifices of 9/11 would never be forgotten.