I’ll be doing 91 floors and this on Saturday because it’s September 11th.
Many of the the firefighters that died that day spent the last long minutes of their lives going up stairs to try and save as many lives as possible. What an awful thing to have to do, carrying that gear, trying to make it to those upper floors and only to die.
So I can do it but have the wonderful luxury of time after to enjoy what a gift exercise is.
God bless them and everyone else who was a victim of 9/11.
Good luck Nards, glad you’re doing your bit to mark the day. I visited the WTC Memorial in March this year on a very cold, wet NY afternoon. I was in NY only for the day and above everything wanted to make sure I went here. It was so moving and inspirational, probably the most moving place I’ve been to. I’m quite an empathetic guy so when I felt what individuals went through, it was just a powerful experience. The tour guides on the day were volunteers they each had their story to tell about the day.
There was one story that stuck in my mind about FDNY fire fighter Stephen Siller “who was off duty on 9/11/01 when he heard of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. He headed to his firehouse to get his gear and head for the fire, and since all tunnels and bridges were closed to traffic after the attacks, Siller ran through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel and to the World Trade Center… wearing his full firefighter gear.” (quoted from elsewhere). That has to be one of the bravest things I could of ever imagined.
It so happens I’ll be running a Army run on Sunday, it’s only 5km but I’m not a runner. I have extra inspiration now. Thanks Nards.
That’s a great story.
I’ve heard about whole fire stations being wiped out. No firefighters returned.
There’s just something heart breaking about dying in terrible discomfort the way many soldiers and firfighters do. Their last minutes filled with not only the knowldege that all whom they love will soon be out of their grasp but that that it will be a painful end. You can see why many of them want to die of old age in their sleep.
I’m rooting you on Nards, very nice way to remember.
KNOCK EM OUT NARDS!
Now on that note if someone anyone could just find that SOB that was the Mastermind behind the attack. I will be at peace with the universe.
I’ll post my time tomorrow night…maybe later as I will go out and have beers too.
I’ll take bets for my time in doing it, though I should mention I climbed the stairs in Taipei 101 (in the pic, currently the 2nd tallest building in the world) a couple of years ago and did it in 27 minutes. It was 84 floors. It was a bitch too.
Good luck Nards!
Anybody see the documentary “The Falling Man”? The footage of the firefighters standing around in the lobby of one of the buildings and hearing the glass breaking above…it wasen’t always rubble falling if you know what I mean and I’m sure alot of the FF in the footage didn’t survive.
Go for it, Nards!
You’re a good man. I wish you lived in the states. You’d be a cool dude to hang out with.
Awesome way to recognize the anniversary. 
[quote]Iron Dwarf wrote:
Go for it, Nards!
You’re a good man. I wish you lived in the states. You’d be a cool dude to hang out with. [/quote]
Thanks. That means a lot coming from you.
[quote]Nards wrote:
[quote]Iron Dwarf wrote:
Go for it, Nards!
You’re a good man. I wish you lived in the states. You’d be a cool dude to hang out with. [/quote]
Thanks. That means a lot coming from you.
[/quote]
Thanks, but there may be one caveat that I’d require if we hung out: you have to do your Arnold impression the entire time.
lol
you’re the man Nards
Another great 9/11 story was one my dad told me.
I was in Taiwan on that day, and a few days later when I called my dad in Canada he said he went to the store to buy an American flag to put up on our flag pole (yep…may dad has a flag pole next to the house…always flying the Canadian flag) only to find that everywhere was sold out of them.
[quote]Nards wrote:
Another great 9/11 story was one my dad told me.
I was in Taiwan on that day, and a few days later when I called my dad in Canada he said he went to the store to buy an American flag to put up on our flag pole (yep…may dad has a flag pole next to the house…always flying the Canadian flag) only to find that everywhere was sold out of them.[/quote]
Shit like this makes me miss being at home…
I’ll join you on the stairs tomorrow.
[quote]Nards wrote:
There’s just something heart breaking about dying in terrible discomfort the way many soldiers and firfighters do. Their last minutes filled with not only the knowldege that all whom they love will soon be out of their grasp but that that it will be a painful end. You can see why many of them want to die of old age in their sleep.[/quote]
something an ancient history professor of mine said once, “the purpose of war isnt to die for your country. its to make the other poor bastard die for his.”
i admire and have the utmost respect for those who risk and lose their lives in the attempt to save others.
i hope their families can find peace someday, if they havent already.
I have a friend who was supposed to be there that day. He was an electrical engineer and one of his projects was at the WTC. He slept through his alarm that morning. His family couldn’t contact him for 3 days.
My parents and I flew to England three days after 9/11 on that Friday and it was surreal seeing the American flag above Buckingham Palace and everyone who met us wished us well and hoped we didn’t have anyone in the buildings and that they’d gladly help America go kick some ass.
Good luck, Nards! It is a great way to remember those who run into danger when everyone else is trying to escape it.
[quote]CBear84 wrote:
something an ancient history professor of mine said once, “the purpose of war isnt to die for your country. its to make the other poor bastard die for his.”
[/quote]
Patton said that just fyi.
I was in 6th grade when 9/11 happened and my art teacher’s brother had to just out of the first tower. He was ok though. thats a hell of a way to commemorate it nards.
My neighbor’s boyfriend had just finished a workout in one of the Towers, and left just moments before the first plane hit.
I had a client whose wife lost both parents on 9/11, 2001.
[quote]Grneyes wrote:
I have a friend who was supposed to be there that day. He was an electrical engineer and one of his projects was at the WTC. He slept through his alarm that morning. His family couldn’t contact him for 3 days.
[/quote]
Did he get fired for being late?
Sorry… bad taste.
