FIRST RESPONDERS CLIMB IN REMEMBRANCE

343 FIREFIGHTERS LOST THEIR LIVES ON 9-11

  • Cordell, Bessie and Corn Fire Departments. Back row L to R: Garrett Lawson, Cregg Kliewer, Donald Mitchell; Middle row L to R: Jeff Jaronek, Shane Perkins, Tom Boecker, Eric Vandever; Front row L to R: Asa Zoschke, Lucas Schmidt, Seth Slaughterback, Lincoln Hunter, Mason Helvey, Heath Syfert. Photo by Brooklynn Peek
    Cordell, Bessie and Corn Fire Departments. Back row L to R: Garrett Lawson, Cregg Kliewer, Donald Mitchell; Middle row L to R: Jeff Jaronek, Shane Perkins, Tom Boecker, Eric Vandever; Front row L to R: Asa Zoschke, Lucas Schmidt, Seth Slaughterback, Lincoln Hunter, Mason Helvey, Heath Syfert. Photo by Brooklynn Peek
  • Local fire departments climb the equivalent of 110 flights of stairs at the Washita County Courthouse. Photo by Brooklynn Peek
    Local fire departments climb the equivalent of 110 flights of stairs at the Washita County Courthouse. Photo by Brooklynn Peek
  • After completing his climb, Lucas Schmidt takes a rest. Photo by Brooklynn Peek
    After completing his climb, Lucas Schmidt takes a rest. Photo by Brooklynn Peek
  • Fireman Eric Vandever rests on the ground. Photo by Brooklynn Peek
    Fireman Eric Vandever rests on the ground. Photo by Brooklynn Peek
  • Corn Fireman Asa Zoschke hydrating. Photo by Brooklynn Peek
    Corn Fireman Asa Zoschke hydrating. Photo by Brooklynn Peek

    Saturday, September 10, Cordell, Bessie and Corn Fire Departments took to the stairs of the Washita County Courthouse at 5:30 a.m. where they began to climb the equivalent of 110 flights of stairs in honor of the 21st anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks.

    “I remember I was in the 11th grade when my history teacher, Coach Petree, recorded and brought a video on VHS of some of the news footage to show us,” said Corn Firefighter Asa Zoschke.

    “My reasons for doing this are two-fold. Doing this makes me feel like I’m a part of it and not so far removed being in Western Oklahoma and this happened in New York.”

    Local firefighters who joined in on the national event wore head-to-toe gear weighing roughly over 50 pounds to salute the 343 firefighters who lost their lives in the World Trade Centers that day, and to understand the distance they traveled.

    “Knowing the reason behind [climbing 110 flights of stairs], we were happy to do it. It keeps us together and I was thrilled to see that many show up. There’s a lot of brotherhood and camaraderie we have with our departments that a lot of people don’t understand,” expressed Cordell Fire Chief Seth Slaughterback.