9/11 stair climb at Carter-Finley honors first responders
TO HONOR THE MEN, WOMEN AND
FIRST RESPONDERS KILLED 24
YEARS AGO TODAY, HUNDREDS
PARTICIPATED IN A STAIR CLIMB
AT CARTER FINLEY STADIUM TO
MARK THE SEPTEMBER 11TH
ANNIVERSARY WRAL'S SEAN
GALLAGHER BRINGS US INSIDE THE
EVENT WHERE PARTICIPANTS
LEARNED THE WEIGHT OF TRUE
SACRIFICE.
>> A LOT HAS CHANGED IN THE
LAST 24 TIME HEALS A LOT.
THE PAIN OF LOSS STILL REMAINS.
THAT'S WHY EVERYBODY IS
EXPRESSING THAT PAIN TODAY WITH
EVERY MEANINGFUL STEP HERE.
CARTER FINLEY STADIUM.
>> WITH THEIR RUCKSACKS ALMOST
IS FILLED AS THEIR HEARTS.
HUNDREDS CAME OUT TO PAY
RESPECTS TO THE HEROES OF 9.11
AT CARTER FINLEY STADIUM.
FIRST AIR CLIMB. THIS IS REALLY
SHAPES ON ALL WHOLE GENERATION
OF ALL AMERICANS TO CARRY THIS
LIVE TODAY. AND IT'S HERE FOR
FOR THOSE THAT FALL INTO
ANSWERING TO BE HERE TO THE
9.11 WAS ONE OF THE WORST DAYS
IN OUR HISTORY IS A DAY WHERE
HEROES TRULY SHINE THROUGH.
IT'S A DAY THAT REINFORCES WHY
SAM SALLINGER CHOSE THIS
CAREER. IN HIS FULL WESTERN
WAKE. FIRE TURNOUT HERE FOR
TODAY'S STAIR CLIMB. SOT
HEAVIER ON HIS MIND THAN THE
HELMET HE'S WEARING. THEY WERE
THEIR GROUND 0. THEY SAW IT.
THEY DID IT. THEY WERE SCARED.
WE AREN'T WE GET TO DO THIS
WITH NO THREAT TO OUR ALLIES.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE THAT LUXURY.
WHETHER THEY WERE BORN AFTER
9.11, OR LIVED THROUGH IT LIKE
FORMER RALEIGH FIRE ASSISTANT
CHIEF IAN TOMS. I FEEL THAT
THERE'S A PERSONAL ATTACHMENT
THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE IT WASN'T
MY PEOPLE, BUT IT. BUT IN THE
WAY IT WAS DOING THIS, THEY
WERE DOING EXACTLY WHAT I WOULD
HAVE DONE, STRAPPING THEIR
HELMETS ON TO CLIMB UP THOSE
110 STORIES INTO THE WORLD
TRADE CENTER.
>> THE GRAVITY WEIGHING MORE ON
SA LINGER IN THE GEAR ON THE
SHOULDERS. SUFFERING RIGHT NOW.
BUT THEY HAD TO DO THE SAME
THING YEARS AGO. THEY WERE
ABSOLUTELY THE BRAVEST MEN.
THEY COULD HAVE POSSIBLY 100
SUCH A FATE.
>> SHAUN GALLAGHER, WRAL NEWS,