The historical attack on 9/11 changed the world in many ways, and 2,977 lives were lost as a result of four planes hijacked by terrorists. Many first responders rushed into the Twin Towers in New York City with the mission to save people, and more than 400 did not make it out alive. In honor of all the lives lost, the leaders of AFJROTC decided to do a memorial stair climb. The cadets climbed the staircase near the track 40 times, which is equivalent to the amount of stairs in the Twin Towers. Teams of cadets alternated carrying 30-pound rucksacks to represent the equipment that first responders carried while climbing the stairs.
“The backpacks really helped put them in the perspective of the firefighters and see what the firefighters had to go through,” Lt Col Alfred G. Proulx, said. Proulx is an Aerospace Science Instructor for AFJROTC and is retired from the USAF.
Several classes came to observe as the cadets walked each step in respect and gratitude, while remembering those whose lives have been lost.
“The stair climb really helped the members of ROTC understand what 9/11 was and the impact it had on the U.S. Before this event, not many of the students knew what 9/11 was. The stair climb helped teach them about the event and helped put them in the shoes of all the first responders who climbed the stairs in the Twin Towers. Since not many knew about 9/11, they had no idea about the steps and how many there were,” Proulx said.
CMSgt Jose G Alfaro, Aerospace Science Instructor for AFJROTC created the inaugural event and plans for it to become an annual tradition at MHS.
“I noticed that other schools’ military organizations had something similar, and I thought that we had not honored that day enough. So I decided to bring the stair climb to Marietta,” Alfaro said.
While watching the cadets, MHS teachers and administrators shared specific memories they have from that day. Some teachers also teach 9/11 as a lesson every year. Alfaro was not a teacher at the time of 9/11.
“During 9/11, I was overseas in Germany. So it was a very tragic moment when I got home from work, and we watched the news and saw the events unfold. The next day, the base went into a very extreme lockdown,” Alfaro said. “It was very challenging to get to work, but what was amazing was the outreach of support from the German people. The German Army was out there securing the base. The German people were coming out saying we support you. There was a lot of support for America because of what happened, so it was very, very touching.”
The newest AFJROTC Aerospace Science Instructor, Cedric V. Hill, MSgt (ret), USSF, was serving in Colorado at the time of the attacks.
“My memory of 9/11 was the emotion that was sparked as I was pulling crew in Colorado, watching the attack unfold. It was surreal for me, and it made serving, the reality, and the importance of our Missile Warning mission real. It was then I saw my service as a calling, not just a job,” Hill said.
For others, including Proulx, 9/11 inspired action and duty towards their country. It marked the highest enlistment within a year at the time.
“After 9/11 happened, I wanted to go back because I had just left the military three years earlier, and it inspired me to come back to the military. I spent 40 years in the military total before I retired, so I only had maybe 12 years in, and by what happened made me want to be part of it,” Proulx said.
Next year, there will be more opportunities in the community and at the high school, in addition to this new tradition in honor of the 25th anniversary of 9/11. The Kiwanis Club will prepare the Field of Flags for the fifth time.
