- December 4, 2025
FPC JROTC student Brody McGinty places his chip with the name of 9/11's fallen first responders on a commemorative American flag board. Photo by Sierra Williams
The annual 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb in Flagler County had over 300 registrants for its fifth annual event. Photo by Sierra Williams
People from across Flagler County and surrounding areas came out to the Hammock Beach resort to remember those who died on 9/11. Photo by Sierra Williams
Flagler County firefighter Clay Merritt, his son and Putnam County firefighter Jacob Merritt and Crescent City firefighter Mike Demiduk at the annual memorial stair climb. Photo by Sierra Williams
Flagler County firefighters at the 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb. Photo by Sierra Williams
Flagler County Fire Rescue Chief Mike Tucker. Photo by Sierra Williams
Flagler County firefighters Andrew Gulyas and Andrew Wheeler dress in their firefighter uniforms for the 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb. Photo by Sierra Williams
Flagler County Fire Rescue firefighters prepare for the fifth annual 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb at Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa. Photo by Sierra Williams
The annual 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb in Flagler County had over 300 registrants for its fifth annual event. Photo by Sierra Williams
The annual 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb in Flagler County had over 300 registrants for its fifth annual event. Participants had their lanyards punched for each set of stairs they climbed. Photo by Sierra Williams
A climber takes a break in the middle of his climb on the 11th floor of Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa. The annual 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb in Flagler County had over 300 registrants for its fifth annual event. Photo by Sierra Williams
The annual 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb in Flagler County had over 300 registrants for its fifth annual event. Photo by Sierra Williams
Flagler Palm Coast High School's Junior ROTC students climbed all 110 stairs at the fifth annual memorial event. Photo by Sierra Williams
Blue Knights Chapter XXII member and former club Vice President Karol Dombek at the 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb. Photo by Sierra Williams
Friends Amanda Vannatta and Melissa Ellis at the 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb in Flagler County. Photo by Sierra Williams
Flagler Schools' Will Fury at the stair climb. Photo by Sierra Williams
The annual 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb in Flagler County had over 300 registrants for its fifth annual event. Photo by Sierra Williams
Flagler County Fire Rescue firefighter twins Christian and Kyle Carre at the 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb. Photo by Sierra Williams
FCFR Cpt. Michael Pius checks in on stair climb participants. Photo by Sierra
Tom Riffe at the fifth annual 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb at Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa. Photo by Sierra Williams
Flagler County Sheriff's Office Cmdr. Mike Lutz completes another level of the 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb. Photo by Sierra Williams
The annual 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb in Flagler County had over 300 registrants for its fifth annual event. Photo by Sierra Williams
Over 300 people registered for the fifth annual 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb at the Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa.
Event organizer Lacy Martin said 312 people participated in the climb and each individual carried poker chips with the names of the fallen written on them. Martin, who now runs the stair climb as a 501C3 nonprofit, has organized the event since its first stair climb in 2021 with Flagler County Fire Rescue.
The event commemorates the first responders who died trying to save people stuck in the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center during the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack. Firefighters had to climb110 flights of stairs to get to the top of the towers.
Participants at the Hammock Beach resort climbed 10 flights of stairs 11 times to signify the 110 flights first responders climbed on 9/11 to rescue people trapped in the Twin Towers.
The National Anthem was performed by Althia Thompson, and the ceremony included a speeches from FCFR Fire Chief Mike Tucker, Flagler Schools Teacher of the Year Brandi Anderson, Indian Trails Middle School Student Valentina Mondragon Paredes and Flagler County Sheriff's Office Deputy Chief Joseph Barile.
The climb started 8:46 a.m., the same time that the first plane crashed into the North Tower at the World Trade Center.
