{"id":16579,"date":"2025-09-11T22:43:33","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T22:43:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/sept-11-sky-steps-climb-honors-first-responders-reminds-attendees-of-shared-humanity\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T03:58:38","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T03:58:38","slug":"sept-11-sky-steps-climb-honors-first-responders-reminds-attendees-of-shared-humanity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/sept-11-sky-steps-climb-honors-first-responders-reminds-attendees-of-shared-humanity\/","title":{"rendered":"Sept. 11 Sky Steps climb honors first responders, reminds attendees of shared humanity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Firefighters
Firefighters Mark Flemming, left, Andrew Perkins, center, and Zach McKay touch a piece of steel I-beam from the World Trade Center during Thursday\u2019s annual Sept. 11 memorial Sky Step climb in Durango. (Scout Edmondson\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Five-hundred and twenty-nine steps make up the Sky Steps in Durango. Early Thursday morning, about 100 community members and first responders commemorated the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks by climbing the steps five times \u2013 equivalent to the number of stairs firefighters climbed in the World Trade Center in 2001.<\/p>\n

Near the top of the steps, a twisted and burned piece of I-beam from the towers lay cradled in a Durango Fire Protection District gurney, flanked by a Colorado and an American flag. It was a solemn reminder of one of the nation\u2019s darkest days, but also a symbol of heroism of the first responders who served, and those who lost their lives.<\/p>\n

Rich Dory, who served for the Chicago Fire Department for 37 years before moving to Durango, was in New York City, working as peer support for the firefighters trying to save people after the towers fell. He said he was honored to be at the event, and grateful to see the community come together.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not about completing five laps,\u201d he said. \u201cEverybody\u2019s kind of going through their own experience and their own journey with it, but we\u2019re all sharing an experience, and that shared experience is to honor and commemorate and remember, certainly everyone that perished that day on 9\/11 in 2001.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Firefighters
Firefighters from the Upper Pine, Fort Lewis Mesa, Durango and Los Pinos fire departments remembered their fallen brothers and sisters Thursday during the Sept. 11 memorial Sky Step climb. (Scout Edmondson\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Before the climb began, Dory was asked to give a speech for the assembled crowd \u2013 honoring the 343 firefighters, 70 law enforcement, 90 EMS and nearly 3,000 civilians who lost their lives in 2001, and those who have died from illness and mental health issues since.<\/p>\n

A moment of silence ensued.<\/p>\n

\u201cGod bless you all, brothers and sisters,\u201d Dory said. \u201cI love you all to death. Let\u2019s never forget.\u201d<\/p>\n

With that, Upper Pine River Fire Protection District Capt. Mark Flemming thanked the crowd, then, playing \u201cAmazing Grace\u201d performed by the Fire Department New York Pipes and Drums on a Bluetooth speaker, commenced the climb.<\/p>\n

Firefighters wearing full bunker gear climbed alongside friends and family members in sneakers, hugging, high-fiving and encouraging one another along the way, their laughter and panting drifting on the early autumn breeze. The smell of sweat, old smoke and two-stroke fuel from the chain saws of DFPD\u2019s wildland fire crew mingled with the sweet scents of rain and sage brush.<\/p>\n

Though the memorial commemorated a sad day, people were smiling and supporting one another. To many, it was a reminder of their shared humanity, and the bonds that communities have that violence will never break.<\/p>\n

\"About
About 100 people gathered Thursday for the Sept. 11 memorial Sky Step climb. (Scout Edmondson\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>
Recent shootings cast a shadow<\/div>\n

A school shooting Wednesday at Evergreen High School<\/a> left one student in critical condition and the shooter dead. On the same day, conservative influencer Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while holding an event in Utah. The shootings cast a long shadow over an already solemn day.<\/p>\n

Durango Fire Protection District Randy Black said the two tragedies made the day extra difficult.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m feeling sad,\u201d he said. \u201cToday we are recognizing the evil that happened in our country 24 years ago. We saw it again yesterday in Utah and in our state in Evergreen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Black pointed out that law enforcement officials were largely absent from the memorial because they were sending extra personnel to patrol Durango because of heightened tension and threats of violence. It frustrated him, he said, because both Sept. 11 and Wednesday\u2019s violence were caused by people\u2019s inability to communicate with each other.<\/p>\n

\"Upper
Upper Pine River Fire Protection District Capt. Mark Flemming rests his hand on the I-beam steel from the World Trade Center. (Scout Edmondson\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cWhat has happened with mental health and people\u2019s inability to communicate anymore, it\u2019s just a shame,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is a memorial of lack of ability to communicate, lack of, you know, recognition of humanity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yet, even though the mood was darkened, a desire to come together and celebrate empathy was a shared theme among those in attendance. For Flemming, the event embodied what inspired him to become a first responder.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s hard to put into words, but I think that the ethos of a first responder is to be there for the community,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Flemming said what drives him and his fellow first responders is a willingness to put themselves in harm\u2019s way to help others. The stair climb is a testament to that spirit, which was displayed back in 2001 for the firefighters at Ground Zero.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s this really pure form of humanity,\u201d he said. \u201cI think what we all are here to share and cherish is that we truly are here for each other, and for that shared experience, and again, to commemorate those that unfortunately paid the ultimate sacrifice to be there for other people.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Chris
Chris Porter, left, and Kye Cordes participate in the climb. (Scout Edmondson\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

That was one of the main reasons why Kye Cordes and Chris Porter, both 24, decided to become firefighters in the first place. Porter\u2019s uncle was a firefighter, he said, and inspired him with his stories and selflessness. Cordes, on the other hand, found his way to full-time firefighting after working as a seasonal wildland firefighter in Durango. For both of them, the camaraderie and high purpose of firefighting was what keeps them coming back.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt seemed like just the best job in the world helping people, and you get to hang out and have a second family,\u201d Cordes said.<\/p>\n

Remembrance and a desire to be better<\/div>\n

\"From
From left, Aivhleen, Brayton, Cillian and Danielle Thurber made all five ascents of the Sky Steps to commemorate Sept. 11. Both Danielle and Brayton Thurber work for the La Plata County Sheriff\u2019s Office, and the whole family strives to create compassion and patience for others. (Scout Edmondson\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Danielle and Brayton Thurber took their two daughters, 13-year-old Aivhleen and 9-year-old Cillian, to Thursday\u2019s climb. As a family, they ascended and descended the stairs all five times, with Aivhleen hauling a firefighter\u2019s air canister on her back the entire way.<\/p>\n

Though neither Aivhleen and Cillian were alive when the towers fell, they both felt called to participate in the climb, and inspired to learn from the tragedy.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s important because we need to have good memory of what happened,\u201d Cillian said.<\/p>\n

For her older sister Aivhleen, the fact that neither she nor her sister were alive meant it was all the more important to carry the memory forward.<\/p>\n

\"Aivhleen
Aivhleen Thurber runs the final few steps of her fifth Sky Step climb, carrying a 35-pound firefighting air canister. (Scout Edmondson\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cIt\u2019s more important for us to be aware of what happened, because we weren\u2019t there, and a lot of the time the reason that history is taught \u2026 is to prevent it from ever happening again,\u201d she said. \u201cWe never want a tragedy like this to ever occur again. I\u2019ll be prepared for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Both Aivhleen and Cillian mentioned how it was important for them to go out of their way to be kind to other people, even strangers on the street. A little kindness goes a long way, they said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf people were nicer to people they disliked, a lot of things happen,\u201d Cillian said. \u201cBut with everybody you come in contact with, the guy on the street that you walk past when you go to the grocery store and you say, \u2018Hey, how\u2019s your day going?\u2019 Or \u2018What are you up to today? Have a great rest of your day.\u2019 Just adding positivity to the world might help.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Rich
Rich Dory, who served as peer support through Chicago Fire Department after Sept. 11, climbed the Sky Steps to remember his fallen brothers and sisters. Even at 70 and having survived kidney cancer, Dory climbed the stairs three times and wore a 35-pound air tank for his last lap. \u201cThis is just the greatest brother sisterhood in the world,\u201d he said, and urged his fellow firefighters to get scanned for cancers. (Scout Edmondson\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Dory echoed that sentiment. While serving as peer support for firefighters at Ground Zero, the New Yorkers were stand-offish at first \u2013 it was their city, after all. But he gently offered them his help, whether that be getting them something to drink or lending a shoulder to cry on.<\/p>\n

\u201cI went there to be able to talk to the guys on the piles,\u201d Dory said. \u201cIt was tough, but it was tougher for them.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said that though Sept. 11 was a day marred by hate-fueled violence, Dory felt like it also highlighted a shared sense of humanity \u2013 something he urged people to remember.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s hard to pass by someone in need and not want to help,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s not just limited to first responders, it\u2019s human nature. But too many people are so afraid now. Just be a human.\u201d<\/p>\n

sedmondson@durangoherald.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Tucker
Tucker Owens, Lucas Brown and Josh Fanning are volunteers for Los Pinos Fire Protection District. \u201cWe\u2019re doing this because we\u2019re remembering those who fell and we\u2019re pushing ourselves to feel even a fraction of what they felt in remembrance,\u201d Brown said. (Scout Edmondson\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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