ROTC cadets at Charleston Southern University climb stairs to honor those who died on September 11, 2001

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – It has been 23 years since the September 11, 2001, terror attacks, and Charleston Southern University’s Air Force ROTC cadets honored first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The cadets walked the equivalent of 110 stories or 2,071 stairs – the height of the World Trade Center towers – on Wednesday morning.

Devon and Jonathan, two seniors at the college, have taken part in the stair climb every year while attending college and say it’s important to remember those who sacrificed their lives for others.

“I think the biggest thing is it is most important that you don’t forget,” said Devon Gregg. “I wasn’t alive when it happened, but I’ve seen the impact of it, and that’s one of the things that has driven me—wanting to be someone that’s willing to do anything to put your life on the line for people who are next to you.”

“I was alive when it happened, and I saw the fear and trauma that it caused for America,” said Jonathan Washington. “So, in any sense of showing support for our country and this nation, we’re going to do that. So, every year that we’re here, we’re going to continue those that have fallen, those that were first responders and showed up as soon as it happened, so that’s what we’re trying to do.”

Washington said he was in the third grade when the attacks happened and remembered seeing the attacks unfold on television and radio. “As a kid, you don’t really understand the gravity of it until you get a little earlier […] but understanding that is kind of what made me lean towards joining the military, protecting our citizens, entering the fight against those that are foreign and domestic. It was a cause that I couldn’t shake, and I wanted to be part of it every day of my life.”

The stair climb happened at CSU’s Buccaneer Field, where each cadet ascended the bleachers in a solemn tribute. This act symbolizes the courageous efforts of the 343 police officers, firefighters, and medics who rushed into the World Trade Center’s stairwells to save lives, but who tragically did not make it out before the towers collapsed.

The stair climb serves as a symbolic completion of the mission these heroes undertook, honoring their ultimate sacrifice and ensuring their bravery is never forgotten.

This event reflects the commitment of CSU’s AFROTC cadets to remembering the legacy of the nation’s fallen first responders.