The City of Albuquerque held a ceremony at Civic Plaza to mark the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Mayor Tim Keller and Fire Chief Emily Jaramillo led the event, which included a memorial stair climb by Albuquerque Area Firefighters.
Firefighters completed a 110-story stair climb to honor nearly 3,000 civilians, as well as the 343 firefighters and 72 officers who died during the attacks. The tradition of the stair climb in Albuquerque dates back to 2003, when Lieutenant Cogburn, then deployed in Afghanistan with the Albuquerque Fire Department, climbed a two-story building 55 times while wearing body armor and carrying an M-4 rifle. He did this to pay tribute to firefighters lost at the World Trade Center. When he returned home in 2004, he organized what became known as the Albuquerque Firefighters Memorial Stair Climb—the first such event held in the United States.
Over more than two decades, what started with Engine 5 and Engine 2 being dispatched at 8:46 AM to a local 22-story building has grown larger but continues its original purpose. The event is marked by tradition and reflection among firefighters who gather annually for this memorial.
Mayor Tim Keller addressed those gathered: “What we witnessed on 9/11 and the events that followed proved that we are not defined by our differences but our common humanity,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “It became a testament of what truly unites us, our shared values, our love for this country and our commitment to freedom and justice. That is exactly the message we need to keep alive for our younger generations.”
Fire Chief Emily Jaramillo added: “We must honor the fallen, we must ensure that every decision we make is guided by our own true north, not by convenience or excuses, but by what best serves the people that we are entrusted to take care of,” said Fire Chief Emily Jaramillo. “That is the spirit of service. Every decision we make, every policy we set, how we train, every action we take must ne measured against one question: does this serve the people that are counting on us when we need it most. That is how we never forget.”
