HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – The Hopkinsville Christian County Family YMCA honored the anniversary of Sept. 11 with a special community event on Sept. 6. The 9/11 Prayer & Community Tribute Workout took place at the Stadium of Champions with around 75 emergency responders and community members.
“The annual stair climb event at the YMCA is just a small way HFD and the community can pay tribute to the lives lost; to always remember the sacrifices made and ensure no one forgets. It’s a physically challenging way of paying your respects,” Payton Rogers with Hopkinsville Fire told Christian County Now.
The event opened with a prayer and the National Anthem, going right into a tribute workout with members of the community. After that, Hopkinsville firefighters took on the Stair Climb Challenge, where they symbolically climbed the 110 floors that firefighters in New York climbed during the terrorist attacks. While wearing gear, they went up and down the steps of the stadium until the goal was met.
“Sept. 11 is a somber reminder of the sacrifices not only firefighters made that day, but all first responders,” said Rogers. “Many of the firefighters lost that day were on their first day of work. It’s hard to comprehend what they were thinking; knowing they likely wouldn’t make it out.”
Sheryl Ellis, the CEO of the Hopkinsville Christian County Family YMCA said the event also included local law enforcement and military representatives along with the community. In addition, there was entertainment for kids during the event, and a fire truck for them to explore.
Also, this weekend, six people from the Hopkinsville fire Department joined over 300 other firefighters from surrounding states to tackle the same challenge in Nashville, Tennessee. This climb included four ascents of 28 floors with full uniforms and gear.
“Nashville is physically demanding due to the temperatures in the stairwells and lack of air movement. Although, it’s nothing to what those experienced that day on 9/11,” said Rogers.
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