Cadets gather in New Barracks for speeches and a moment of silence before the stair climb honoring those who perished in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.—VMI Photo by H. Lockwood McLaughlin.
Nearly 800 VMI cadets honored those who perished in the 9/11 terrorist attacks by ascending and descending the steps in barracks from 1st stoop to 4th stoop 37 times, climbing the equivalent of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center in honor of the incredible rescue attempt by first responders that fateful day 23 years ago.
Cadets ascend and descend the steps in barracks from the 1st stoop to the 4th stoop.—VMI Photo by H. Lockwood McLaughlin.
Participating cadets carried the name of a 9/11 victim taped on the back of their rucks, which were loaded with an average weight of 45 pounds. In addition, some cadets carried firefighting tools, rifles, and flags. Others took turns carrying a fragment of glass recovered from the rubble of the Twin Towers, as well as an American flag recovered from ground zero.
Before the climb began, Col. John P. Casper ’04, Institute chaplain, led the Corps in prayer and a moment of silence. Casper, who was a 20-year-old 3rd Class cadet Sept. 11, 2001, shared a memory of that day. “I remember going to English class, where they turned the TV on, and we watched the towers fall in real time. I don’t think we quite realized the full gravity of what was happening, but as the day unfolded, it became evident. I distinctly remember thinking, ‘I should call my parents,’ as a lot of people across the nation called their loved ones and family. In barracks at that time, there was a phone room, which had about 16 pay phones because not every cadet had a cell phone. I remember rounding the corner in the hall leading to the phone room and seeing a massive line of cadets that extended into the courtyard. It was at that moment that it dawned on me that this event was life-altering for so many people.”
According to Col. Lawrence Havird ’90, commandant, such an event provides cadets an opportunity to reflect on the moments of the past and the sacrifice of others, and this anchors them around VMI values of service above self. “I’m very proud of the cadets today for their enthusiasm in carrying out this laborious task,” he said.
Heaton Lawrence ’26, firefighting club president and cadet in charge of the stair climb, stated that the day meant a lot to him. “It’s not about us, it’s not about me, it’s about the 343 firefighters and 2,977 Americans who died that day.”
Two VMI alumni who perished on 9/11 were Charles Mathers ’62, a civilian who died when the plane hit the first tower of the World Trade Center, and U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. David Williams ’91, who died when the plane struck the Pentagon.
Editor's Note: Story originally published by Virginia Military Institute.
