UNM ROTC units remember 9/11 victims in memorial stair climb

On the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, a day that will never be forgotten in United States or world history, more than 100 ROTC cadets, military officers and first responders at The University of New Mexico climbed up and down approximately 3,000 stairs at University Stadium at the break of dawn in remembrance of the victims and first responders who lost their lives that day.

The United States, as well as the world, was changed when several acts of terrorism were carried out. All told, the attacks killed 2,977 victims including hundreds of first responders. It was a tragedy that reshaped global security, intelligence policy, air travel and led to the creation of the Department of Homeland Security in the U.S.

Many of the cadets who participated in the memorial stair climb weren't even born when the 9/11 attacks occurred. Several of the participants were in the service at the time and they talked about that day and where they were.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Robert Lacy is the chair of UNM's Department of Aerospace studies and professor of Air Force ROTC. He participated in the memorial stair climb for the second time.

"Every year we do a memorial stair climb here at University Stadium. This is the second year that I've done it," he said. "Primarily the cadets do the planning, put it on, and it's pretty neat because for cadets who weren't even born before September 11th, they're coming together to put this on and memorialize those lives lost. I think it's pretty neat that even 25 years later, it's still something that we're coming together to memorialize. Obviously, 25 years is a long time for folks that weren't even born before September 11th, 2001.

"I know when I was 20 years old, things that happened before I was born seemed like ancient history. And for those of us who lived through it, it will be something that is never ancient history. It's something that we always, always live with. And so, being able to come together and be able to tell the stories like Chief Rubio did, and what it was like to be there, of what it meant to us who lived through the event, and then those of us who lived through it and 20 years of the Global War and Terror and everything that came after it, I think is pretty neat."

U.S. Air Force Retired Chief Master Sergeant Michael John Rubio was at Special Forces Combat Dive School at Key West, Fla. on Sept. 11, 2001. He discussed how his perspective changed after the initial shock in the opening before the stair climb. He was flying out of Key West and was the only passenger on his flight, realizing the event was a significant change in what he thought military service meant on that day.

"It was just the story of September 11th being told through one man's perspective and how that perspective changes from the initial shock of the event and the natural human emotions that come with it, anger, fear and vengeance," he said of his opening address. "Over a career of just seeing what America is capable of when we come together, it was really just a message of remembering the sacrifice, remembering who we are as a nation, and keeping that in mind and having faith in our country."

U.S. Navy Capt. Darren Dugan, commanding officer of the UNM Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps, was on board an aircraft carrier in Norfolk, Va. when 9/11 happened. "We were in a shipyard environment, so the whole ship was torn apart. We had that ship put back together in a matter of days, and then sailed to the east to go see what we could do for the nation.

"This event is inspiring because it's a joint event between the Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Army folks. It's just really inspiring to see these young people motivated and doing a physical activity that causes them also to remember that day, even though they weren't even born yet.

He spoke to the cadets at the end of the event and wanted them to think about why they climbed.

"I do want you to think for a moment about why we climbed. 25 years ago on September 11th, 2001, nearly 3,000 people began an ordinary Tuesday morning and never came home. And while thousands were desperately trying to get out of the World Trade Center, firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and other first responders were going the other direction," said Dugan in his remarks. "They were going up toward the fire, toward uncertainty, toward people who needed them. Today, we climbed to remember them.

"For me, September 11th was more than a date in our nation's history. I was a young naval officer serving aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt, an aircraft carrier in Norfolk, Virginia. Like millions of Americans, we watched the events that morning unfold with disbelief, but for those of us wearing the uniform, there was another realization. Whatever came next, we were going to be part of it.

"We didn't know where we would be sent or what would be asked of us, but we knew we had taken an oath. And when our nation called, we would answer. Within days, my shipmates and I were underway as part of America's response to the attacks of September 11th. So, cadets and midshipmen, I share with you that because on September 10th, 2001, none of us knew what the next morning would bring. That's the nature of service. I sincerely hope you never experience a day like September 11th, 2001."