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NY Stair Climb honors 9/11 first responders for 5th straight year

More than 400 first responders climbed a total of 110 flights of stairs in honor those who died in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001

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Firefighters and other first responders walk together as a group after climbing 110 flights of stairs during the fifth annual CNY Memorial Stair Climb.

Photo/Tribune News Service by Alex Cooper, Observer-Dispatch

By Alex Cooper
Observer-Dispatch, Utica, N.Y.

UTICA, N.Y. — The CNY Memorial Stair Climb took place at the Utica State Office Building for the fifth consecutive year Saturday.

More than 400 first responders, both locally and from throughout the state and other states, climbed a total of 110 flights of stairs in honor of the first responders who died making the ultimate sacrifice in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

Each person carried a tag with the name and photo of the first responder who they climbed in honor of. When their climb was completed, they walked across a stage to read the name of the fallen first responder and place the tag on a memory board.

Standing near the exit doors shaking hands and thanking every firefighter who participated was retired Rescue 5 FDNY firefighter Rob Mitchell.

Mitchell responded to the 9/11 attack on the Twin Towers and served for 22 years. Saturday was Mitchell’s first time in Utica.

“This was absolutely beautiful ... it’s really important for the next generation to not forget what happened on 9/11,” he said. “The people up here in Utica — they don’t forget.”

Funds raised by the event will benefit the Believe 271 Foundation, Believe NNY Foundation, Kevin “Bing” Crossley Memorial Foundation, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation/Walk of Honor Project, and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

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©2019 Observer-Dispatch, Utica, N.Y.

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