Almost 3,000 Americans lost their lives on 9/11, and Southwest Virginia is doing everything it can to honor the people who tragically lost their lives.
The Virginia Military Institute is hosting its annual stair climb on Wednesday. It starts at 5 p.m. Cadets will climb 110 stories to imitate the steps that the first responders took in the World Trade Center on 9/11.
They’ll also carry gear that weighs up to 20 pounds and they have the name of someone who lost their life that day on them as well.
Command Sargeant Major Suzanne Rubenstein said it says a lot that the Virginia Military Institute is participating in this event.
“You’ll find that the VMI community in general is very patriotic, and this is part of what happens when America was under attack and we’re just not gonna forget. We are a military school, so it just really screams, ‘We’re still here,’” said Rubenstein.
Junior Stephen Charvat helped organize the stair climb this year. He said it means a lot to him even though he wasn’t born when 9/11 happened because he’s from New York.
“Since I’ve known people who’ve lost fathers brothers who like from the cancers of being on ground zero and helping with the rubage and all that it’s just it’s close to my heart this day and everything and makes me feel good after,” said Charvat.
There are other events taking place too in Southwest Virginia.
At the National D-Day Memorial, they are hosting a wreath-laying ceremony and they team up with the Bedford Fire Department for this event.
About 40 to 50 people participate.
“We promised then that we would never forget and we won’t as firefighters and first responders and we will remember them every year and we just hope that our citizens, especially those who weren’t born, remember that and understand the history,” said Chief Todd Stone with the Bedford Fire Department.
There is also a remembrance formation at 7:15 am at Virginia Tech.
The Field of Honor in Forest is hosting a memorial at 6:30 p.m. as well.
Additionally, the Danville Police Department will host the 23rd anniversary commemoration for 9/11, starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Fire Department Headquarters/Fire Station #1 on Lynn Street. Averett University President Tiffany Franks will be the keynote speaker.