Gaithersburg event honors NYC firefighters who died on 9/11

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) – Today, Marylanders gathered to honor the hundreds of firefighters who died in the attack on the World Trade Center 24 years ago.

The 9/11 Memorial Rock and Stair Climb in Gaithersburg pays tribute to more than 300 New York City firefighters who died on 9/11. In addition to honoring them, it helps the people they left behind.

“Just to come here today and just to experience everybody coming together as one in unity as part of this is just something you got to experience,” said David Kirk, who works for Paul Davis Restoration and is a volunteer firefighter.

Kirk has been a volunteer firefighter for 24 years, beginning his service the year the terror attacks on the U.S. took place.

“I remember this on day one when it happened,” he said. “I was in high school, I kind of saw all the stuff unfolding on the news and the first thing I could think of was getting home and getting to the firehouse to be around my brotherhood to kind of be there for everybody.”

For the past two years, Kirk has worked with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) to bring the 9/11 Memorial Rock and Stair Climb to Gaithersburg.

“Three-hundred-forty-three,” Regina Livingston, development program manager with NFFF, said. “That’s how many firefighters died on 9/11 that we have honored. Our mission is to provide resources to the families of the fallen firefighters.”

It’s a physical tribute to the New York City firefighters who died in the wake of the attack on the World Trade Center. People climb the equivalent of 110 stories — the height of the twin towers.

“Doing the stairs today was an absolutely incredible experience,” Crystal Coats with Paul Davis Restoration said. “It was a moment of reflection for me.”

“They’ve made the ultimate sacrifice and so it means something for us to contribute to that and show our appreciation,” said Daniel Epps with Paul Davis Restoration.

The dozens of 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb events that take place across the country help raise money for the NFFF. The funds help support families of those who died, as well as other firefighters and their communities.