What might have been depicted as a sea of people, were hundreds of participants gathering at the starting point at 8:46 am, which was when the first World Trade Tower was struck by a commercial airliner. These individuals included firefighters, police officers, search and rescue teams, EMT’s, sheriff officers, and animal control officers; which does not include all of the civilian community members.

A brief speech was given about significance of the event and route instructions. A moment of silence was then observed and at 9:02 am (when the south tower struck by the second plane), the Colorado Emerald Society Pipes and Drum Band played Amazing Grace. As the climb began in the ‘Triangle’ parking lot, each participant started up a long ramp and an additional staircase, which amounted to ¼ mile, before beginning their journey around the seating arena.

The first stair climb began when five fire fighters made a pact to climb 110 stories, on September 11, 2005, in a building that’s in Denver, Colorado; as way to honor the fallen ‘First Responders’, who sacrificed their lives, during the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001. (A total of 9 ½ times around the Red Rocks seating arena is the equivalent of the 110 stories that the first responders climbed on 09/11/01.) Now many first responders from across the United States, along with many community members, share their fraternal connection and devotion during these stair climb tributes.