Lebanon firefighter honors 9/11 first responders one flight of stairs at a time

A Lebanon firefighter joined others across the nation in honoring the first responders who died in the September 11, 2001 attack on the United States

Climbing 110 flights of stairs has become an annual tradition in remembering the 343 firefighters who died running into the World Trade Center as burning jet fuel melted the steel that held the twin towers high above the New York skyline.

Roberto Roma, 39, executive director. of Atrium of Belleville Senior Living Community and a volunteer firefighter with Lebanon Emerald Mound Fire Department, took on the tradition to simulate the 110 flight-climb up the towers.

“I didn’t ever think I would be a firefighter, didn’t think it was ever in my future,” said Roma. “Now that I am, I just really feel that it’s my way of paying my respects to those people that went into the towers and ultimately lost their lives that day, whether it’s fire personal, police officers, paramedics or even civilians that lost their lives trying to help out that day.”

In front of residents, employees and a couple of guests, Roma donned 50 pounds of bunker gear and proceeded up the Atrium’s stairs 68 times, equivalent to the number of steps up the 110 floors of each tower.

“I am sure it will cross my mind a lot, trying to wonder what those guys were thinking, not knowing what was happening in the world really at that point when they were going up those towers,” Roma said before getting into gear. “That it was maybe just an accident, especially the first guys, not realizing there was a second plane coming, maybe even never knowing that the second tower had been hit.

“They all kissed their families goodbye that morning and never got to see them again.”