Saturday morning, the Henry Biesiot Activities Center hosted Dickinson’s first responders
and community members to participate in the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. The climb is
an event held to honor the first responders, particularly firefighters, who sacrificed
their lives during the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Participants in the
stair climb symbolically retrace the steps of those who climbed the stairs of the
World Trade Center in an attempt to rescue people trapped in the towers. Typically,
participants will climb 110 flights of stairs, the equivalent of the number of floors
in the World Trade Center towers.
The Memorial Stair Climb is an important way to remember how first responders answer the needs of the public. It honors their dedication and willingness to put their lives in danger. Among these participants was Mark Selle, a member of Dickinson Fire Department and instructor for Dickinson State University’s (DSU) fire science program.
Selle has participated in the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb since it started in 2020,
not missing an event. Selle’s dedication was clear as he participated despite being
on assignment helping those affected by Hurricane Ida in 2021. In addition to honoring
the sacrifices of those who served on 9/11, he believes this event is a way to show
those interested in becoming a firefighter the community that comes with the job.
“We all come together as a family. It grows your family exponentially,” Selle said.
The Memorial Stair Climb offers an educational experience for DSU students in the fire science program. They witness first-hand an effective way to bond as a team and incorporate what they do in the classroom. Selle added “Some of my students are walking today. They are in their second year and getting them out here allows them to see what the fire department does as a whole. It teaches them bonding. It teaches them a hard work ethic.”
Dickinson State University thanks the Dickinson Fire Department, firefighters and first responders, for all they do and invites the community to join in recognizing their selflessness and dedication to keeping us safe.