By Jon Johnson/Gila Herald
THATCHER – Participants climbed the stadium stairs to symbolically replicate the 110 flights of stairs climbed by first responders inside the World Trade Center towers, paying tribute to the 343 firefighters, 71 law enforcement officers, and nine emergency medical service personnel who lost their lives on that fateful morning.
Thatcher Middle School Assistant Principal Leah Meehl again organized the annual event for the 10th straight year.
“I just feel like the men and women who are the first responders that were running into burning buildings while others were trying to get out should be remembered,” Meehl said. “They should not be forgotten… It’s the feeling that you have when you’re here. To me, it is so strong that I can’t not do it. I just can’t. And it’s obvious it’s the same for others; otherwise, we wouldn’t have so many people show up year after year.”
When asked how long she plans to continue hosting the annual tribute, Meehl smiled. “My husband was like, ‘How much longer do you plan on doing this?’ I said, ‘Well, until I move, I guess.’ And I don’t plan on moving, so I’m gonna say no.”
Before participants took to the bleachers, Thatcher Police Department Officer Shaffen Woods addressed the crowd, thanking Meehl and reminding everyone of the evening’s solemn purpose.
“This stair climb honors the firefighters and first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice on September 11, 2001, 25 years ago today,” Woods told the crowd. “They climbed toward danger while others were trying to escape. They carried their equipment, answered the call, and placed the lives of others before their own. They did not know who they would find or whether they would return home, yet they still continued to climb.”
Woods emphasized that the climb was a personal journey of reflection rather than a competitive athletic event.
“This climb is not about how fast we move or how many steps we take,” Woods said. “It’s about remembering the lives that were lost, honoring the families left behind, and carrying forward the memory of those who gave everything. If you become tired tonight, pause and remember the people behind this climb… Let each step be a promise that their courage will never be forgotten, their sacrifice will never be overlooked, and their stories will continue to be remembered. We climb to remember, we climb to honor, and we climb that we never forget.”
Following the opening remarks, Thatcher firefighter Christopher Mattice led the procession onto the stadium stairs, wearing full turnout gear alongside fellow emergency responders.
“I was real young when I experienced—like when I witnessed it on TV and whatnot,” Mattice said. “Being a firefighter now, I just don’t have words to describe what they went through. I hope we never have to experience something like that again.”
For Mattice and many local first responders, participating in the climb serves as a vital connection to the broader brotherhood of service.
“I’m so grateful that I’m able to represent our community and help them when they need it,” Mattice added. “Just being able to come and have a memorial for the guys that we lost that day—it’s absolutely amazing.”
Climbers of all ages filled the bleachers throughout the evening, each step taken as a quiet pledge to ensure the sacrifices made 25 years ago are never forgotten in the Gila Valley.
