Austin commemorates anniversary of 9/11, honors 1st responders killed in attacks

AUSTIN (KXAN) — First responders across the nation pay respects each year on this date to the firefighters, police officers, EMTs and other first responders who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.

Several ceremonies were held in Austin on Thursday, commemorating the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and honoring the victims and first responders who died as a result of the attacks.

Austin-Travis County EMS hosted a memorial stair climb in downtown Austin Thursday morning. The ceremony included remarks from first responder agency leaders, a moment of silence, and a symbolic stair climb, followed by refreshments, live music and fellowship.

ATCEMS medics and local first responders across several different agencies participated in the memorial, which was held at the Austonian skyscraper.

According to ATCEMS and AFD, 343 firefighters, 60 police officers and eight paramedics/EMTs lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001, as well as the thousands of others impacted by the tragedy.

One life lost as a result of the terrorist attack was that of Austin Fire Battalion Chief Travis L. Maher, who died not in 2001, but in 2022, from cancer that his doctor believed was linked to the time he spent in New York helping with a rescue and recovery effort after the attacks.

AFD wrote in a press release that it still participates in and hosts remembrance events each year for Maher and the 10 Austin firefighters who were deployed to New York following 9/11.

One of those was a memorial stair climb at the Pleasant Valley training tower, which has taken place each year since Sept. 12, 2001. It’s the longest-running 9/11 stair climb in the country, according to AFD.

Firefighters gather each year to climb the equivalent of the World Trade Center’s height (1,368 feet) in full gear at the Pleasant Valley training tower.

The Austin Firefighters Association (AFA) also hosted the annual 9/11 Memorial at Buford
Tower on Thursday morning. The ceremony included a presentation of colors by the Austin Fire Honor Guard, music performed by the Emergency Services Pipes and Drums Association and a moment of silence at 7:46 a.m., when the first plane hit the tower in 2001.

The Samaritan Center also hosted an annual 9/11 climb Thursday morning at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) Observation Tower.

Anyone was able to participate by purchasing a ticket for $35. All proceeds support Samaritan Center’s mission to provide affordable, holistic mental health care services for veterans, first responders, military service members and their families.

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