Barbara Hardt, Black Hawk.   It was the feel of the stairs vibrating under the soft tennis shoe, and then the feel of the vibration with a firefighter passing in full bunker gear. The hollow sound of the echoes of approximately 130 people ascending to the top of the 34th floor. This wasn’t a celebration. It was a remembrance of those that died in the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001. Participants pay tribute to the fallen 343 firefighters, 60 police officers, 8 EMT’s, and 3 state officers whose photos and names line the stairwells of the Casino. The bells ringing, a solemn reminder of those lost.

The Black Hawk 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb began in 2009 at the Ameristar Casino Resort Spa with just a few members of the Black Hawk Fire Department and Gilpin Ambulance Authority climbing to honor those who were lost. Over the years, the memorial climb has grown to involve other multiple fire departments from Colorado and neighboring states, City personnel, business partners, casino staff, family, and friends.

The Stair Climb has an added degree of difficulty. Unlike other climbs, participants began the challenge at 8,042 feet above sea level, and gained 192 feet of elevation. This makes the Black Hawk 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb the highest stair climb in the world.

The event began with the presentation of the colors, a ceremony presenting the flag of the United States. The “colors” refer to a flag. The color guard, consisting of two honor guards and two flag bearers, presented the colors. Emotional speeches and introductions from local firefighters followed, including a Bell Service reading by Engineer Quentin Griffin. The Bell Service reading is also a tribute to firefighters and the cost of their chosen profession.

Participants include Michele Martin, employee of the City of Black Hawk. Michele climbs in honor of her family. Michele was pregnant on 9/11 when the towers fell. Michele’s husband Danny was flying to a funeral back east when his flight was grounded on 9/11. On landing in Chicago, it was chaotic. A man yelled at him to take the above ground trains to the station. When he looked back to thank the man, he was gone. Vanished into the day. Danny was able to catch the California Zephyr back to Colorado, one of the first trains that left the station. Michele climbs because no matter who you are, or where you are, this touches everyone. Everywhere.

Ranni Mills climbs in remembrance of those who are gone. She normally completes the climb at Red Rocks. But as a recent addition to the Central City Fire Department, she decided to climb with her comrades. To Ranni the stairs for 9/11 are so much more than a challenging feat or a workout for the day. She was three years old when this event took place and has no recollection of the actual events that day.

The fight those first responders put up that day still isn’t over. Some still suffer from long term effects, families that lost loved ones, or the fear that something like this could happen again.

Ranni states, “From Colorado to New York we all climb together for the same purpose. You will never be alone, the entire time you will be checked on, encouraged, and every now and then you’ll feel a pat on the back from someone you’ve never even met before and just know that you’re family. There were so many lives lost that day and so many more were lost trying to save those. When we climb, with their pins on our shirt, they will live on forever through us. Never forgotten.”

Mary Ozimkowski, a 71 year old woman from Evergreen, climbs because she spent her life in aviation. She climbs to honor those lost.

Several participants stopped at the water station, or next to the pool, reflecting, taking a deep breath, remembering. Some made it the entire 136 floors, some made it just 9 or the first 34.

It was an exceptionally moving event.