ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — It's been 23 years since the United States was targeted in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people. In the Quad Cities, community members took the somber opportunity to make sure the tragedy is never forgotten.
Muscatine firefighters hold memorial stair climb
First responders and other community members in Muscatine participated in a stair climb in honor of the first responders who risked their lives while responding to the attack. Participants walked up and down the main grandstand of the Muscatine High School football field a total of 18 times, equaling the 2,200 steps that the crews responding to the twin towers had to scale.
Muscatine Fire Lieutenant Jason Verschoore joined Shelby Kluver on The Current on News 8 to discuss what makes the tradition so important more than two decades later. You can watch his interview in the video below:
Geneseo stair climb
Rock Island Arsenal ceremony
Approximately 100 people paid a visit to the Rock Island Arsenal for its annual 9/11 memorial ceremony. Garrison Commander Colonel William J. Parker III spoke about the importance of remembering the infamous day in American history.
"For us to still be celebrating it with the type of numbers and the number of folks that showed up today, 23 years later, really shows not just how much it resonates with folks, but there's still there's still that hope, that want, that desire for a sense of national unity and national pride," Parker said.
Additionally, for the first time, a group of volunteers remained at the Arsenal after the event in order to help clean off headstones in the cemetery.
