Columbia County’s firefighters and some of its civilian residents put their legs with their heart to commemorate 9/11, Monday morning.
The annual 9/11 Memorial Ceremony began at 8:15 a.m., in front of the Evans Towne Center Parking Deck. After the presentation of the colors by the Columbia County Fire Rescue’s Color Guard, Deputy Fire Chief Jimmie Paschal opened the observance.
An audience of Columbia Countians and local leaders were in attendance, including Georgia State Rep. Jodi Lott, Columbia County Commissioners Alison Couch and Gary Richardson, Planning Commissioner (and District 122 candidate) Russell Wilder and County Manager Scott Johnson.
Columbia County dispatch call resounded an homage to the firefighters and first responders of that tragic day: “We will never forget you, and always honor and cherish your memory. Columbia County dispatch clear.”
The fire department chimed its bell 15 times. A fire engine blared, before a moment of silence and an invocation.
The ceremony was brief, to offer time to prepare for the firefighters and residents to prepare to participate in the county’s iteration of the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb.
Five Denver firefighters inaugurated the Stair Climb on Sept. 11, 2005, climbing stories in full gear, in honor of the 343 firefighters who died in the line of duty at the World Trade Center.
The tribute is now enacted by fire departments throughout the country, including Columbia County this year, alongside police, medical technicians, military personnel and civilians.
“The best way we can honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice that day is by doing something hard,” said Fire Rescue Capt. Steven Parish. “Because that’s what every firefighter and EMT and law enforcement officer was doing. They were working hard to save the civilians in that tower.”
Parish referred to FDNY Battalion Chief Orio Palmer who died rescuing civilians in the South Tower on 9/11, leading a team of firefighters as far as the 78th floor, as his inspiration.
“Even after Tower 1 had collapsed, and they knew the outcome, what the outcome was going to be, they continued to climb to Tower 2,” Parish said. “Unfortunately, as we all know, they climbed but never made it to put the fire out. But that’s the nature of everyone standing here today. We all go in knowing whatever the odds are against us, we believe that we can still win.”
Members of Columbia County Fire Rescue gathered at the floor level of the parking garage and donned their 60 pounds of gear, to begin climbing its four floors 32 times, up and down its westernmost stairwell, to match the 110 floors scaled by New York’s firefighters.
A recording of the dispatch in New York that day played as they walked the stairs, joined by civilian participants on the opposite stairwell.
Fellow first responders stood by with water and fruit, and if needed, medical care. The climb went on for over an hour, beginning at 8:46 a.m., when the first plane hit the North Tower.
Parish noted that the exercise was not merely a gesture, but a demonstration of what those in Fire Rescue are trained for.
“We’re always preparing for something like this,” he said. “We could go to one of our hotels and do the exact same thing. It may not be as high, but it’s still climbing to the top to rescue innocent civilians, and we have to be ready for that.”
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
