On the morning of Sept. 11, Army and Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at the University of Georgia along with Athens-Clarke County first responders joined forces to honor the 23rd anniversary of the Sept. 11attacks.
Members of each organization gathered to climb the stairs of Sanford Stadium. The goal was to hit 2,200 stairs, equivalent to 110 flights, representing the same distance the first responders climbed in the World Trade Center.
Greg Trevor, UGA Spokesperson and a survivor of the 9/11 attacks, began the event at Reed Quad. Trevor commended Cadets in both ROTC programs for making the ultimate sacrifice of protecting and serving the nation daily. 
Trevor first honored the man who saved his life 23 three years ago. David Lim, an officer with the Port Authority Police Department, was a first responder on the day of the attacks. His second honorable mention was his father.
“The other outstanding person I would like to honor today is very personal to me,” Trevor said. “My father, Barry Trevor, who became the first member of his family to graduate from college thanks to Army ROTC.”
His father coached Trevor and his siblings in a variety of sports for over a decade. Trevor now strives to emulate the leadership traits of his father in both his professional and personal endeavors, and takes pride in developing lifelong skills of leadership and sportsmanship in young adults.
Commitment to service is a theme that Trevor emphasized, and one many University of Georgia Cadets strongly value and emulate.
Army ROTC Cadet Emma Kate Merriam from Roswell, Georgia valued the opportunity to participate in an event bigger than herself. Merriam joined Army ROTC because she has always felt called to serve
(Photo by Kendall Kelley)
and help others.
“The whole point was to come out here and show support for those who still serve, those who want to serve, the lives we lost, and to remember what happened that day,” Merriam said.
(Photo by Kendall Kelley)
This student-led event encouraged collaboration between military groups on campus and the Athens-Clarke County community. This was the inaugural stair climb at the University of Georgia, inspired by other ROTC programs across the country.
“Our Army group is extremely close, but we don’t work with the Air Force that often,” Merriam said. “So getting to do this with them and the first responders shows the community is all around Athens.”
Army ROTC creates an environment that values camaraderie, teamwork and encouragement. Cadets rely on the support from their Battalion to strive for greatness. Army ROTC Cadet Brendan Murrin from Ball Ground, Georgia said the 9/11 stair climb was no different.
“Nobody finished first, nobody finished last,” Murrin said. “We didn’t leave anybody behind, I think that speaks for itself.”
After one hour of climbing, the goal of 110 flights was achieved. While this event tested the endurance of Cadets, it was acknowledged that this feat was small compared to the first responders who served on the day of the 9/11 attacks.
Professor of Military Science Lt. Col. Weston Layfield felt a sense of pride in the different groups represented at the 9/11 Stair Climb that all answered the call of service in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.
“UGA Cadre have served in conflicts globally for over 20 years as a result of the attacks,” Layfield said. “Honoring the victims of 9/11 and the service members and first responders that have served since is important to us all.”