“Today, we will walk stairs to remember the fallen rescue workers and to honor those who continue to go into this line of work,” said fourth-grade teacher Nikki Witt.
She told her class that 343 firefighters lost their lives on 9-11 as they rushed into the buildings and climbed the stairs to rescue others. Additionally, 60 police officers died and 10 EMS workers for a total of 413 people who died while trying to help others.
“On September 11, 2001, when the Twin Towers of New York were attacked, the city’s first responders did just what they are trained to do. They responded. For some, this meant climbing 110 flights of stairs to rescue people at the top level of the buildings. This was 2,200 steps,” said Witt.
She didn't expect any of her students to walk 2,200 stairs, but she did challenge them to do their best and maybe try to get to 413 - one stair for every first responder who died that day.
Thornapple Township firefighter Lloyd Skiba whose son, Gehrig, is one of Witt’s students, joined in the class event. He climbed fully dressed in his fire turnout coat, pants, boots and hat, and carried an oxygen tank on his back - just as the first responders would have done as they entered the Twin Towers. At a steady pace, he moved up and down each set of steps, often trailed by a handful of students trying to keep pace.
Lloyd Skiba said he was glad he was able to participate with students. “It’s hard for them to understand 9-11. But this is a good way to remind them of what happened and how everything isn’t always going to be easy. But they can’t give up. They just have to keep going and keep trying.”
Some students held a steady pace up and down the steps, while others ran up and down as many times as they could before taking a break. Many reached their 413 stair goal and some went well beyond that number.
“We’re doing this for all the first responders who died trying to help others on 9-11,” said fourth-grader Gehrig Skiba as he took a short break with his friends.
“We’re just showing appreciation to the people who tried to save lives then and to show we appreciate them now for keeping us safe,” said fourth-grader Jacob Quint.
Classmate Camden Brenner said he was walking as many steps as he could “for Sept. 11 when the twin towers were attacked and a lot of people died.”
Isla McKeown and Devynn Baylock took a break after a while and started writing letters of appreciation to first responders. “It’s very hard,” said Isla McKeown of the stair walk. Baylock said it was “so tiring.”
Deacon Rocco hung his arms across the fencing in the stadium taking a break before climbing one last set of steps. “It’s tiring. But we’re doing it to remember how much the firefighters had to do to try to save people. I just have one more set to go.”
When Lloyd Skiba finished his stairs, he sat on the bleacher and remembered 9-11. “This is a good way to show these kids how we’re sacrificing a little here today for those who sacrificed a lot.”