LEXINGTON, Ky. — Families all over the Commonwealth are paying special tribute to the thousands of lives lost in the 9/11 attacks. The Kamphake family payed their respects by climbing 110 flights of stairs at Kroger Field Thursday – the same amount that first responders did 20 years ago.
What You Need To Know
- The Lexington Fire Department hosts the 9/11 Stair Climb annually
- Participants climb 110 flights of stairs at Kroger Field
- Participants climbing wear badges featuring victims of 9/11 on their clothes
- Melissa and Joseph Kamphake were first time participates in Thursday's climb
Twenty years ago, people’s lives across the country changed forever. Families like the Kamphake’s are doing everything in their power to help the Lexington community never forget the events that took place that day.
“I have been wanting to do it for years, now that it is the 20th anniversary my partner in crime is ready to do it with me and we are ready to go,” Kamphake said.
For Melissa Kamphake and other participants, never forgetting means climbing 110 flights of stairs with first responders, veterans, friends, family and – of course – the little ones.
“This is Joseph Kamphake, and he is ready to climb,” Kamphake said, holding her son.
The importance of learning about the tragic events of 9/11 starts young for the Kamphake family, and that's what the Lexington Fire Department strives for. LFD Battalion Chief Jordan Saas said hosting events like this for the community means informing people about the tragic event, no matter how young.
“It is important that we educate the younger generations because there are kids climbing today that were not even born when 9/11 happened,” Saas said.
Even if participants are too young now to understand what happened, they will grow up knowing and being a part of a community that brings importance to the day.
“People sacrificed their lives together so we decided to joined forces together and do this for the fire department and for all the people on 9/11,” Kamphake said.
The Kamphake family knows just how much it means to climb because they have a member of the Lexington Fire Department in their family.
“My husband, his dad, is a fireman so he risks his life everyday. It means a lot for us to do this for the people that sacrificed their lives on 9/11,” she said.
The Lexington Fire Department had over 600 participants this year, and next year they hope to reach 1,000 climbers.