Firefighters Remember 9/11 w/Event at Hospital

Additional photos will be posted soon

With the 13th anniversary of 9/11 approaching, Effingham firefighter Jerrod Estes wondered whether something could be done to commemorate the milestone. Estes thought of the New York City firefighters who climbed 100 floors of the World Trade Center trying to assist those trapped inside.

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Estes contacted St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital officials and wondered whether the hospital's stairwell could be used to re-enact the event as a tribute to the fallen firefigthers.  Hospital officials were receptive and the event took place Thursday morning, utilizing the stairwell from the first to the sixth floors. Some of the firefighters did the climb wearing their turnout gear.

A nice touch was the number of hospital personnel and members of the public who attended to applaud and cheer the firefighters as they completed the climb. Some firefighters carried miniature flags as they traversed the stairways.

Estes, who is a paid on call firefighter for the Effingham department, has been a firefighter since 2008. He worked on the Altamont department until his move to Effingham this summer. He also works for Effingham City-County Ambulance Service. He was also very pleased with the turnout, initially thinking five firefighters were going to do the climb. That number grew to around 20 by the time the event began.

Prior to the climb, Justin Stortzum, who works in Pastoral Care at the hospital offered a prayer in memory of the attacks and seeking safety for all of those who provide emergency services. 

Firefighters from the Effingham, St. Elmo, Shumway, Brownstown and Watson departments participated in the climb.