A few Saturdays ago, we drove to Midland before sunrise. My friend and I had planned on doing this event a few months prior and just earlier that same week our husbands decided to join us. I had heard about last year’s happening from another friend and knew it would be a good experience. I didn’t know it would be GREAT!
Our group was two couples and we were meeting up with another family who had participated in 2025. Their granddaughter has been making quite a name for herself locally singing at ballgames and other events. I had seen plenty of videos of her and been fully impressed. However, hearing this young 14 year old belt out the National Anthem, a capella, in a stadium of first responders was enough to not only bring tears to our eyes, but cause them to spill over. Everyone around me was touched by her voice. We are going to enjoy seeing how far her talent and hard work will take her. I should back up to the beginning… We had pre-registered online. Once we arrived, our packets were ready with our event t-shirts and commemorative coins. Also included was a lanyard with the name and a velcro nameplate of a first responder who died in the attack on the World Trade Centers on September 11, 2001. While everyone was running AWAY, these public servants were running TOWARD the danger to help others. It’s mind boggling to me that there are those who are willing to sacrifice their lives for me. For us. They didn’t know what they were going into – they just went. I mean, I will help you, but risk MY life to save you…? That takes a level of commitment I would need to consider at length. So, we get gathered up on the field of the stadium and the granddaughter sings. Beautifully. Then, much to my delight, a former high school mate gives the invocation. Now, this is a man I haven’t seen in over 40 years, but we are contacts on Facebook. He is a local to the Midland area, active as Captain on the Greenwood Volunteer Fire Department. Small world moment! After so many years, I wouldn’t have recognized his face, but I did know his name. He delivered the prayer and this was followed by a retired Fire Chief offering his perspective of the sacrifice he and others make on the daily as well as the familial bonds such a life choice creates. All of which were very poingnant and moving. Cue the bagpipes! And with that, the stair climb begins. It is led single-file by a fireman in full gear (about 70lbs of extra weight!) All these participants were here to honor current and former service people. It will get you in your feels!
Our march was up and down the lower level, up and down the upper level, around to the other side of the stadium for a repeat and back across the field. Moving steadily, each lap took about 20 minutes. Four complete laps represent the 110 floors of the fallen World Trade Center towers. My friend and I shared the rucking of a 14lb vest. At precisely 8:43am everyone took a knee while the bagpipes played Amazing Grace to mark the first plane hitting the North Tower. Wow! Then, same take-a-knee ritual again at 9:03am for the South Tower. On one of the trips across the field, I spotted the last name of my old high school mate on the back of his uniform coat. I called out his full name and he turned around. We had nice moment to reminisce and I got to tell him how much I appreciated his prayer for all of us that morning. We had separated from our husbands and it was fun to spot them coming and going with a high-five or a wink as we passed them. My husband also ran across the same guy from Snyder High but their history went all the back to Little League baseball. We had another lap to go when the first finishers rang the bell. We were not quite as fast, but, we trudged on. We climbed because they climbed. As we came closer to finishing, a line began forming on the football field. Each participant had the honor of placing their “person’s” nameplate on an honor board and then ringing the bell for them.
We were moved by the thoroughness of the meaning attached to everything that Tall City Memorial Stair Climb planned to show our respect and gratitude for these fallen responders. Our friends who invited us had several reasons to be proud. I’ve already mentioned that one granddaughter sang the National Athem with grace and poise. Another granddaughter completed the entire Stair Climb with her grandmother. It was a great thing to get to witness and participate in.
My honoree was David DeRubbio.
You can learn more about him here:
https://www.legacy.com/legacy/memorial/david-derubbio
PS. We thought we deserved a nice meal after our efforts that morning so we went to Abuelo’s for lunch. I had not consumed any caffeine or energy drinks or anything but… when we were being seated I was still riding an emotional high from the event. I spotted a table of about 8 firefighters and here I am wearing my blue event shirt and I just wave excitedly at them like we are big friends. I mean, we had just spent the last few hours honoring them and appreciating them. We were almost FAMILY, right? Umm, not quite, Ma’am. Well, those poor confused diners just looked around like “who is the crazy woman waving at our table?” Who could blame them? Anyway, I settled myself right down and later slunk past them very discreetly on my way to the bathroom.