Ohio University’s Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), the Bobcat Battalion, will be hosting a virtual 9/11 challenge to remember and honor the heroes from that day. All in the Athens and OHIO communities are welcomed to participate from any location this Friday, Sept. 11.
While circumstances have changed, the goal behind the sixth annual event stays the same: to have participants climb 2,071 steps to represent the 110 floors of the World Trade Center, giving context to what workers, firefighters and rescuers experienced on that day.
The Bobcat Battalion welcomes all to participate and honor the lives lost and heroism displayed during 9/11 by completing the event wherever they can by using stairs, a step machine, hills, roads or simply walking. No registration is required for this year’s event since it will occur virtually.
“The event was always less about getting people into Peden with us and more about reminding them of the sacrifice these men and women made. We could never experience what they did on that awful day, but we could do our best to let them know that as Americans, they are not alone,” Jonathan Licata, Army ROTC cadet, said.
The Bobcat Battalion encourages participants to complete their steps at any time throughout the day and to post and tag @ohiouarmyrotc and @ohio.university in their Instagram stories so that the Bobcat Battalion can recognize all who participate.
“Our goal is to ensure that people do not overlook the significance of this day – 19 years ago, the course of history, both internationally but also personally in so many lives, was altered forever,” Licata said. “There were heroes on that day who ignored their fear and fought to save people they didn't know. It is not just another day in September, and we want people to recognize its importance.”
Around 400 people participated in last year’s 9/11 Stair Challenge Memorial event.
For more information about the 9/11 Stair Challenge Memorial virtual event, please contact OHIO Army ROTC cadet Andrew Lakocy at al485816@ohio.edu.