Honoring the 343: One Step at a Time
Each year on Patriot Day, we pause to reflect on the day that changed America forever: September 11, 2001. For some, that pause lasts a moment. For others, it lasts 110 floors.
This year, for the second time, Clarksville Fire Rescue joined thousands across the nation in the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb, a grueling and symbolic act of Honor. Two teams from Clarksville climbed the equivalent of the World Trade Center’s 110 stories, proudly wearing Til Valhalla Project’s 9/11 memorial shirts, representing not only their station, but a brotherhood that spans across generations and departments.
Clarksville Firefighter Joshua Deuel, a former Army soldier who was stationed overseas on the day of the attacks, described it best:
“This is our way to honor the 343 that lost their lives on that day, a token of our appreciation. Realizing that none of those guys knew, or didn’t know, that they would never come down again.”
Fire Rescue Team from Clarksville Fire Rescue, Tennessee. 2025 Memorial Stair Climb in memory of the 343 Firefighters who gave their lives on 9/11/01. Photo Credit: Michaela Watts Photography
The Climb is the Reminder
The stair climb isn’t just about endurance, it’s about remembrance.
Last year, the team climbed in full gear and bunker boots. This year, even in tennis shoes, it didn’t get easier. It’s not meant to. Each step represents what the firefighters of 9/11 endured, pushing through smoke, heat, chaos, and fear, simply because it was their duty.
And that leads to a sobering question:
Could I do the same? Could I climb those stairs and know my last breath would be taken up there?
That reflection is why they climb.
“The fire service is a brotherhood. You can go to any fire department and immediately be welcomed, anywhere in the world, really," Joshua shared.
It’s that brotherhood that fuels the promise to Never Forget, not just the firefighters, but the families left behind.
“To never forget means remembering not just the firefighters, but their families, who every day have to move forward without their loved one. After 9/11, this country was so connected. Sadly, we’ve lost that along the way, but I hope we can find it again.”
Stories That Still Haunt Us
We remember people like FDNY Chaplain Father Mychal Judge, who was killed while giving last rites to a fallen firefighter amidst the wreckage. Or Welles Crowther, known as the “Man in the Red Bandana”, who carried at least a dozen people to safety before going back into the South Tower one final time. He never came out.
These names, and thousands more, are etched into our national memory. They are proof that in the face of unimaginable evil, the best of humanity rises.
They remind us why we must never forget. So we don’t forget their bravery. So we don’t forget what they gave up. So we don't forget their sacrifice.
Fire Rescue Team from Clarksville Fire Rescue, Tennessee. 2025 Memorial Stair Climb in memory of the 343 Firefighters who gave their lives on 9/11/01. Photo Credit: Michaela Watts Photography
The Names Still Echo
As the climb ends, each fallen firefighter’s name is read aloud.
One by one, a bell rings.
Each toll becomes a vow, a commitment to keep their legacies alive.
“We will never forget. We will continue to carry on their legacy for as long as we can.”
Why This Matters to Us at Til Valhalla Project
At Til Valhalla Project, we will always continue to carry the stories.
Every shirt we design, like the one worn by Clarksville Fire Rescue, is created to Honor the Fallen and raise awareness for the causes that continue to affect our Heroes, from battlefield losses to suicide.
The 9/11 Memorial Tee is one way we remember the 343, but it's also how we fund surprise-delivered memorial plaques and give back to those still fighting invisible battles.
Patriot Day isn’t just about the past, it’s about the promise.
To remember.
To Honor.
To keep writing the stories of those who no longer can.
Patriot Day: The Timeline We Can’t Forget
8:46 a.m. — Flight 11 crashes into the North Tower
9:03 a.m. — Flight 175 hits the South Tower
9:37 a.m. — Flight 77 hits the Pentagon
9:59 a.m. — South Tower collapses
10:03 a.m. — Flight 93 crashes in Shanksville, PA after passengers fight back
10:28 a.m. — North Tower collapses
Nearly 3,000 lives lost.
343 firefighters.
60 police officers.
8 paramedics.
And thousands more still mourning.
We will never forget.
