Muscatine will honor 9/11 victims with Moment of Silence, stair climb

Muscatine first responders and community members will once again gather to honor the victims and heroes of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks during Patriot Day and the National Day of Service and Remembrance, a news release says. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the tragic events that reshaped the nation and demonstrated extraordinary courage in the face of unimaginable loss.

A Moment of Silence will be held at 7 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11, at the Muscatine Firefighters Memorial at East 5th and Cedar streets. The brief ceremony, held rain or shine, will honor the 2,977 lives lost, including 343 firefighters, 23 NYPD officers, 37 Port Authority Police Department officers, eight volunteer/EMS personnel, and one New York Fire Patrol member who made the ultimate sacrifice on that fateful day.

“Twenty-five years later, the memories of that day remain as powerful as ever,” said Fire Chief Mike Hartman. “We honor the strength, bravery, and selflessness shown by first responders and everyday citizens alike. Their actions remind us that even in our darkest moments, unity and courage can light the way forward.”

After the ceremony, the Muscatine Fire Department will host the Memorial Stair Climb that will take place on the Muscatine High School football stadium bleachers with the opening ceremony at 8:15 a.m. and the stair climb starting at 8:52 a.m. — the moment the first FDNY units arrived at the Twin Towers.

If you wish to participate, register at MFD 9.11 Memorial Stair Climb. Participants are asked to arrive between 7:45 and 8:10 a.m. to allow enough time to prepare for the climb and to pick up their t-shirt order. T-shirts for the Memorial Stair Climb are available here but must be ordered by Sept. 1. You may choose to have your order shipped to you or you can pick them up at the stair climb.

Proceeds from the shirt sales will be donated to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

“Whether you are a firefighter, first responder, community member, or simply someone who wants to honor those we lost, we would love to have you climb with us,” said firefighter Conner Christiansen, who is coordinating this year’s stair climb.

Pre-climb events include a welcome from Muscatine Mayor Brad Bark at 8:15 a.m., remarks from Muscatine Fire Chief Mike Hartman at 8:20 a.m., the presentation of colors by the Honor Guard at 8:31 a.m., the playing of the National Anthem by the Muscatine High School Marching Band at 8:37 a.m., and a prayer from Chaplain Roy Patterson at 8:40 a.m.

The stair climb replicates the 110 stories of the World Trade Center — 2,200 steps — symbolizing the determination of firefighters who climbed toward danger to save others. Bells will sound throughout the event to mark the timeline of the 9/11 attacks:

• 8:46 a.m. – North Tower struck
• 8:52 a.m. – First FDNY units arrive; stair climb begins
• 9:03 a.m. – South Tower struck
• 9:37 a.m. – Pentagon struck
• 10:03 a.m. – Flight 93 crashes in Pennsylvania.

Each climber will ring a bell upon completing their climb and call out the name of a fallen hero they are honoring. The ceremony will conclude with the bell struck five times, the traditional firefighter’s code signifying “end of duty.”

Those with questions or requests for more information may contact Firefighter Conner Christiansen at cchristiansen@muscatineiowa.gov. Additional contacts include Ambulance Billing Coordinator Stephanie Oien (soien@muscatineiowa.gov).

In addition to Patriot Day observances, the Muscatine Fire Department and the City of Muscatine will hold a memorial service at 7 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 14, honoring Mike Kruse, the only Muscatine firefighter to die in the line of duty

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