Aaron Gilmore and other DFW firefighters to honor the fallen by re-enacting their 9-11 climb
Saturday, September 10th, 2011
Firefighters in 50 to 70 pounds of gear will climb the equivalent of 110 floors in Dallas’ Renaissance Tower to honor 343 of their brothers who died in the collapse of the World Trade Center.
Firefighters from across Texas and from Arizona, Oklahoma and Louisiana will take part Sunday, each wearing a tag with the name and photo of a fallen firefighter.
“I am Lt. Anthony Jovic,” said Chris Balough, 39, an Arlington firefighter and a climb coordinator. “He was 39, had two sons, 9 and 10 at the time, and a wife of 16 years. He was assigned to Ladder Company 34, Engine 279, in Brooklyn. He was in the south tower. The only thing recovered was his helmet shield.”
Brian Oates, 25, a Fort Worth firefighter and EMT, said it’s an honor to climb in the name of one of the 343.
“Lawrence Veling, 44, Engine 235 in Brooklyn,” Oates said. “He had a wife and three kids, ages 2, 6 and 7.”
As climbers finish, they will place their tags on an accountability board and ring a bell symbolizing that their firefighters have “made it to the top,” said John Barrett, 30, a Plano firefighter who is coordinating the event. Continue reading “Aaron Gilmore and other DFW firefighters to honor the fallen by re-enacting their 9-11 climb” »
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