On September 11, 2001, the nation was in shock when Flight 11 struck the first tower of the World Trade Center. Flight 175 struck the south tower, American Airlines Flight 77 struck the Pentagon, and then Flight 93–intended for the US Capitol Building–struck a field. Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives on that tragic day.
9/11 is the worst terrorist attack in US history, and it’s considered to be the worst terrorist attack in the history of the world. To this day, families, friends, the nation, and the world are still affected by it.
On September 11, 2024, Wheeler High School JROTC organized a stair climb event to remember the victims and the first responders who lost their lives on that fateful day.
Wheeler JROTC members invited Wheeler staff, teachers, and students to climb with them throughout the day.
Cadet Gabi Rios (10) commented about the stair climb: “I like how this climb is meant to represent how much the firefighters had to go through to save people. I think it does a good job of representing what they had to do, but not necessarily how difficult it was because we are not rushing, and we don’t have to carry heavy stuff.” Gabi was working on completing 110 flights of stairs during the second block, and when asked about what this event meant to her, she stated, “It means a lot that we are doing something to remember what the firefighters had to go through to save people on that day.”
MSgt. TraSharn, D.J. Daniels was an active participant in the planning process of this event. She oversaw the event and called the fire department to get a participant from the firehouse: “This walk was made the most impactful it could have been in by having an actual firefighter come out and talk about all the equipment that they carry and the equipment of their backs, in their arms, Carrying it hard work didn’t start until they got there, so we would think going up 110 flights of stairs was hard work, but you did all that, and when you got there, you still had to put out the fire and rescue.”
Cadet Galves discussed how sad of a day 9/11 truly was. She emphasized with the people and what they went through that day because she knows the pain behind that loss. She also briefly stated how the firefighters who took part in helping that day already did that hard part, and now she’s doing the stair climb to show her support for the lives lost. She also talked about how this day will not be easily forgotten.
Harris, another Cadet of JROTC, said in the interview, “The reason why I decided to come here today and walk the stairs is because I want to show my support to the victims who tragically lost their lives in 9/11 and the people lost their lives on that day, so I came here to show my respect; that’s why. She also stated that it impacts the community for the better. “It does leave a good impact because doing this shows us our support and respect for the people. This shows people that the little things matter. So, like us doing this, we show people to be thankful. Like this was going to be a JROTC thing, but other classes coming out and going with us tell us that we aren’t alone, especially on that horrible day.” She agreed to come back and do it again.
Cadet Iraa commented on the stair climb, “Seeing the reality of 9/11, it was disastrous and had a massive impact not only on the country but the whole world. So, I came here to support the people who died.” She also said that it brings a lot of closure. “Seeing the reality, it brings a lot of closure; it’s nice seeing others join us. But from my point of view, the people who need a lot of closure are the first responders on that day. 9/11 is one of those days that, even though it’s been 23 years, it’s always a day that we should always remember as a nation.” She also agrees to come back next year and do it again.
