As the 24th anniversary of the September 11 attacks approaches, hundreds of first responders from North Texas and beyond gathered in downtown Dallas to remember those lost on that tragic day—and those who later died due to injuries and illnesses related to the rescue and recovery efforts.
The event included the 14th Annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at the Comerica Bank Tower, where more than 500 firefighters, police officers, and paramedics climbed 110 flights of stairs in full gear to pay tribute to their fallen comrades.
A Ceremony Filled with Emotion
The ceremony, which featured a color guard, the ringing of a memorial bell, and moments of silence, was a deeply emotional remembrance for all in attendance. “I’m sure we all remember the emotion we felt on that day, 9/11,” one speaker said, reflecting the shared experience of those who lived through the attacks and their aftermath.
Among those present was Mikalia Cruz, a survivor who was working on the 95th floor of Tower 2 when the first plane struck Tower 1. “I escaped, but I took one of the last elevators before the second plane hit Tower 2,” Cruz recalled.
“When you see these firefighters and these first responders, it just reminds me of how tragic that day was but how many lives were saved also.”
A Son Climbs in His Father’s Gear
Jack McNamara, a climber and son of FDNY firefighter John McNamara, also took part in the stair climb. His father had responded to Ground Zero and worked tirelessly in the aftermath of the attacks. Tragically, in 2006, he was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer and passed away in 2009. Jack was just a toddler at the time.
Now 18, Jack is following in his father’s footsteps as a firefighter in Kentucky. For this climb, he donned his father’s gear and listened to the same FDNY radio communications his dad had heard on 9/11. “This is my dad’s gear,” Jack said.
“It represents not just my name but my dad’s name that he wore proudly that day at those towers and the following hours after.”
Carrying on a Legacy
Jack shared his hopes of one day joining the FDNY and wearing his father’s badge number with pride. “My end goal is to be a fireman with the City of New York, FDNY, and follow in my dad’s footsteps,” he said. “His badge number is a huge thing to me. I have it tattooed on my body, and I’d like to wear it on the shield one day.”
