Hundreds participate in Ohio Stadium stair climb to honor lives lost on 9/11

Hundreds participate in Ohio Stadium stair climb to honor lives lost on 9/11

Ohio State students, faculty and staff support annual memorial

Before sunrise today, hundreds of ROTC corps members, student-athletes, university leaders, first responders and community volunteers filed into Ohio Stadium with a tough but rewarding task ahead of them.

On the anniversary of 9/11, The Ohio State University's tri-service ROTC departments (Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force) host an annual stair climb in the stadium. Hundreds of supporters arrive a little after 5 a.m. to navigate the stairs and honor the first responders who climbed into the World Trade Center to rescue as many people as possible following the terrorist attacks.

Capt. Westin Hart, assistant professor of military science, spoke before the stair climb began and shared a story of the loss of his father on 9/11. Just 38 years old and with a young family, John Patrick Hart was in the South Tower and was trapped with his colleagues when the second plane hit.

"My dad's story and my family's story are just one thread in a tapestry of thousands. We carry the memories of those who died everywhere that we go," he said. "And I hope that by telling you this story, that you may carry a small piece of him and his memory with you.

"We will climb 110 flights of stairs as far as our lungs and legs will take us to symbolize the number of stories in just one of the Twin Towers. We do this to honor, to remember, and to renew our commitment to never forget," Hart said.

Hart was joined on his climb by members of the Ohio State swim and diving teams, men's and women's lacrosse, the wrestling and men's lacrosse teams, central Ohio police and firefighters, members of the Ohio Army National Guard, volunteers from JP Morgan and more.

Ohio Assistant Adjutant General for the Army Brig. Gen. Matthew Woodruff said he was excited to attend the memorial event for the first time and to join so many committed ROTC members, most of whom have no memory of 9/11.

"I think it's an honor. As an older person who lived through 9/11 and has spent a lot of time in the service afterward, to know that we have young men and women who are willing to stand up and sacrifice for our country, even when they don't remember that day, it keeps the memory alive," he said.

Brooklynn Worner, a second-year biology and pre-med major and an Army cadet, was, like many of her peers, born after 9/11. But that did not temper her enthusiasm as she finished her second stair climb.

"It's a good way to push ourselves. It's definitely challenging, but it's a good way to push ourselves, too," she said. "It's so amazing how many people are willingly showing up just to honor their memories. It's amazing."

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