First responders and members of the community climbed 110 flights of stairs at the 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb event at Hammock Beach Golf Resort and Spa. Photo by Rachel Mills
Caleb Proctor holds an American flag at the 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb event at Hammock Beach Golf Resort and Spa. Photo by Rachel Mills
The Matanzas High School ROTC Color Guard presents the colors at the 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb event at Hammock Beach Golf Resort and Spa. Photo by Rachel Mills
The FPC High School Fire Academy came out and climbed 110 flights of stairs in honor and remembrance of those lost in the 2001 attacks. Photo by Rachel Mills
The Matanzas High School JROTC came out and climbed 110 flights of stairs in honor and remembrance of those lost in the 2001 attacks. Photo by Rachel Mills
Christian Carre of Flagler County Fire Rescue at the bottom of the stairs at the 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb event at Hammock Beach Golf Resort and Spa. Photo by Rachel Mills
The helicopter flyover at the 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb event at Hammock Beach Golf Resort and Spa. Photo by Rachel Mills
Michael Lancaster came to support friend and first responder Rush Rodriguez at the 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb event at Hammock Beach Golf Resort and Spa. Photo by Rachel Mills
Father and daughter team, Jeremy Hobson & Harlow Hobson at the 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb event at Hammock Beach Golf Resort and Spa. Photo by Rachel Mills
A moment of silence and prayer at the 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb event at Hammock Beach Golf Resort and Spa. Photo by Rachel Mills
Caleb Proctor holds an American flag at the 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb event at Hammock Beach Golf Resort and Spa. Photo by Rachel Mills
A moment of silence and prayer at the 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb event at Hammock Beach Golf Resort and Spa. Photo by Rachel Mills
A moment of silence and prayer at the 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb event at Hammock Beach Golf Resort and Spa. Photo by Rachel Mills
A moment of silence and prayer at the 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb event at Hammock Beach Golf Resort and Spa. Photo by Rachel Mills
A moment of silence and prayer at the 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb event at Hammock Beach Golf Resort and Spa. Photo by Rachel Mills
First responders and members of the community climbed 110 flights of stairs at the 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb event at Hammock Beach Golf Resort and Spa. Photo by Rachel Mills
First responders and members of the community climbed 110 flights of stairs at the 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb event at Hammock Beach Golf Resort and Spa. Photo by Rachel Mills
First responders and members of the community climbed 110 flights of stairs at the 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb event at Hammock Beach Golf Resort and Spa. Photo by Rachel Mills
First responders and members of the community climbed 110 flights of stairs at the 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb event at Hammock Beach Golf Resort and Spa. Photo by Rachel Mills
First responders and members of the community climbed 110 flights of stairs at the 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb event at Hammock Beach Golf Resort and Spa. Photo by Rachel Mills
First responders and members of the community climbed 110 flights of stairs at the 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb event at Hammock Beach Golf Resort and Spa. Photo by Rachel Mills
First responders and members of the community climbed 110 flights of stairs at the 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb event at Hammock Beach Golf Resort and Spa. Photo by Rachel Mills
First responders and members of the community climbed 110 flights of stairs at the 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb event at Hammock Beach Golf Resort and Spa. Photo by Rachel Mills
First responders and members of the community climbed 110 flights of stairs at the 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb event at Hammock Beach Golf Resort and Spa. Photo by Rachel Mills
First responders and members of the community climbed 110 flights of stairs at the 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb event at Hammock Beach Golf Resort and Spa. Photo by Rachel Mills
First responders and members of the community climbed 110 flights of stairs at the 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb event at Hammock Beach Golf Resort and Spa. Photo by Rachel Mills
Emotions, reflection, unity and American pride were on display during the sixth annual 9/11 Memorial Tribute Climb at the Hammock Beach Resort and Spa on Friday, Sept. 11, marking the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks.
The climb had record breaking numbers at nearly 500 first responders, students, community members and visitors. Many climbed 110 flights of stairs to honor the fallen of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Event founder and CEO Lacy Martin was grateful for the community involvement.
“I'm so grateful for all the students that are here,” Martin said. “We have Flagler Schools, Daytona State nursing students, Matanzas High Junior ROTC. It's just a beautiful way for the community to come together, be patriots, and just love on each other.”
Prior to the climb, there was a helicopter flyover, a moment of silence led by Chaplain Nate Karr, bagpipes and drums playing “Amazing Grace” and the singing of the national anthem by Dr. Althia Thompson.
Community leaders shared their thoughts during the ceremony.
“It's also important to remember because we want to make sure that we never go back to that day again,” Flagler County Fire Chief Michael Tucker said.
Flagler County Sheriff Chief of Staff Mark Strobridge also spoke.
“We all know where we were, what we heard, when we saw this tragic event unfold,” Strobridge said. ”I received a call from my boss who said, ‘Hey, something's going on that's going to change the world.’ And as a nation, we had to teach the world that we are united and resilient in all that we do.”
The climbers showed their resilience in 80-degree temperatures while wearing full firefighter gear while climbing the stairs.
“As a firefighter in upstate New York, this is my 11th time for James Gray,” Jeremy Hobson said as he climbed with his 4-year old daughter in his arms.
James Gray was a firefighter on FDNY Ladder 20 and was killed at the age of 34 while rescuing people during the attacks in 2001.
“Their spirit is with us as we fight evil across the world and in our community," Strobridge said. “They were called to serve. Let us all be worthy of their sacrifice.”
The Memorial Tribute Climb Scholarship was awarded to former FPC Fire Academy student Evan Achins.
“I received the first ever 9-11 Memorial Scholarship,” Achins said. “I'm going to use the money to further my education in paramedicine."
