There are plenty of sore legs and backs today among the more than 1,000 firefighters, police and community members who took part in Friday’s memorial stair-climbing events downtown and at Red Rocks to commemorate the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
In Denver, 343 firefighters from Denver, Castle Rock, Loveland and other Front Range cities climbed the 55-story Qwest Tower twice — one firefighter for every New York firefighter who died that day. The twin towers of the World Trade Center had 110 stories before they toppled after the only mass terrorist attack on American soil.
A number of police and civilians joined the firefighters, and all of them — some 450 people — were fed barbecue in the plaza at 17th and California streets courtesy of the Denver Marriott City Center Hotel.
Alex Medina, a supervisor for loss prevention at the hotel, and general manager Debbie Karcanes rolled up their sleeves and cooked for the crowd.
“There was enough to feed an army,” Medina said of the hamburgers, chickens, hot dogs and side dishes, all of which was donated either by the hotel or its vendors, such as Shamrock Foods.
At Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, West Metro Fire and Rescue hosted another stair climb, this one making nine round trips up and down the outdoor venue, which is the equivalent of 110 stories.
“It eventually turned into a ring of people around the theater,” said Micki Trost, spokesperson for West Metro. “On average, it took about an hour to complete nine laps.”
She estimated more than 500 people turned out for the event.
