The Department of Military Science, Reserve Officers Training Corps, Jonesboro firefighters and community members gathered at Centennial Bank Stadium to climb the equivalent of 110 stories to honor the steps taken by firefighters, emergency medical technicians and other responders in the World Trade Center.

Beginning at 6 a.m. on Sept. 11, the climb concluded at 9 a.m.

“It’s important for people to remember the sacrifices and all the lives that were lost,” said Joshua Driver, a Jonesboro firefighter. “It’s only been a little over 20 years and it feels like it’s more of a joke now than it is something to remember like an actual tragedy.” 

Lt. Col. Morgan Weatherly started this event in 2021 after seeing the lack of a 9/11 memorial in Jonesboro. 

“Having been in service for over 21 years, I’ve lost friends, peers and mentors, and soldiers that were under my charge.  If not for our nation’s involvement in the Global War on Terrorism, I’m confident that those individuals would still be here,” Weatherly said. “I didn’t personally know anyone that was present at the World Trade Center on the day that the towers were taken down, but I’ve still lost,” Weatherly said.

“I possess nine memorial bracelets that remind me of those friends and colleagues who are no longer with us,” Weatherly said, pointing out the bracelets on his arm.  “So to me, it’s the ensuing aftermath which has left the largest impression on my life,” Weatherly added. 

The majority of the student population at Arkansas State University wasn’t alive yet or are too young to remember 9/11. 

Lt. Col. Morgan Weatherly said there is always going to be some level of disconnect with this, but some younger people do have a connection with it. 

“Unless you just have an affinity for service to your nation or a deep love of patriotism, you might not have that and I know that that something I felt was waning in the country right now,” Weatherly said. “Hopefully just bringing awareness to a situation and reminding people that this is something that happened and this is why our nation is kind of in the state of not being able to agree.”

Madelyn Cunningham, a junior studying mid level education from Batesville, said her sister was only two months old and “she wasn’t even thought of yet” on Sept 11, 2001. 

Sara Low, a Batesville High School alumni who went to high school with Cunningham’s mother, was a flight attendant on the first plane to crash into the Twin Towers. 

Cunningham said she did several relays in track over the years in remembrance of Low. Low’s father shot the gun signaling the beginning of those races.  

“It’s going to impact that town forever,” Cunningham said.

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