14th Annual Grand Rapids 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb held at LMCU Ballpark

COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. — The 14th annual Grand Rapids 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb was held at LMCU Ballpark on Saturday morning. 

The event began at 9 a.m. with an opening ceremony and drew crowds from across the state.  

Organizers said the climb serves as a way to remember the 343 firefighters, 60 police officers and 10 EMS members who died in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. 

Each event participant paid tribute to those who lost their lives by climbing the equivalent of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center while carrying the name tag of someone who died on 9/11. 

“Your individual tribute not only remembers the sacrifice of those heroes, but symbolically completes their courageous journey to save others,” the event’s website said. 

Event Organizer Lance Korhorn said the climb is a way for the community to come together in remembrance. 

“There’s younger generations that don’t remember September 11,” said Korhorn. “We have firefighters coming on today who weren’t born at that time. So it’s everybody being involved, and the members who were on the department, and remember that day, it’s important for everybody to come together for this.”

He said it’s important that no one forgets the sacrifices that were made that day, and the lasting effects the attacks have had on firefighters and their families. 

“While September 11 we lost 343 firefighters, many have died since then as a result of cancers related to (9/11),” said Korhorn. “And so while it was the greatest loss of life in the fire department’s history, it was also the greatest rescue mission of all time.”

During the event, Kevin Milanowski, an engine operator at the Grand Rapids Fire Department (GRFD), was honored with the HME Local Hero Spotlight Award. 

The award was presented by HME Ahrens-Fox, a a leading specialty vehicle manufacturer.

Milanowski, a second-generation firefighter, has “been exceptional in transforming the GRFD fleet.”

“As GRFD’s Subject Matter Expert on apparatus, Kevin has demonstrated exceptional leadership”, said GRFD Chief Brown. “He not only developed technical solutions but also inspired others to join and contribute to the EVT team. His ability to lead by example, maintain high standards, and motivate his colleagues has elevated GRFD’s fleet program to one of pride in West Michigan. His vision and initiative have positioned GRFD to expand their in-house capabilities even further once the new fleet and facilities building is completed in 2027.”

Milanowski said he’s thankful for the award. 

“It felt good to be recognized by my community,” he said. “Basically, I’m just another guy going into work, doing my job, but it’s nice to be recognized. I appreciate it.”

He said his memory of 9/11 is strong, and his father’s job as a firefighter that day made it feel even closer to home. 

“My dad was working for Grand Rapids that day,” he said. “I also worked for the city at the time in the motor equipment department. So those attacks were very real to me. He was on duty that day, and I was going into work that night. 24 years later, it’s just like it happened yesterday.”

Milanowski said families shouldn’t be afraid to talk to their children about what happened on 9/11, in memory of those who didn’t come home that day. 

In addition to honoring the first responders’ sacrifices, the stair climb benefits local firefighters and helps fund the programs by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to support families of the United States’ fallen firefighters and the FDNY Counseling Services Unit.