DMC Public Service cadets led the way during department’s somber Sept. 11 “Memorial Stair Climb” ceremony on Windward Campus
Article by Richard Guerrero, Jr.
A quarter of a century has passed since one of the nation’s most tragic events occurred, now known as “9/11.” The count among first responders lost attempting to save lives on Sept. 11, 2001, reached 441, including firefighters, emergency medical professionals and law enforcement at the Twin Towers in Manhattan and even military at the Pentagon, according to official reporting by the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.
The official death toll that day among both victims and first responders totaled 2,977.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, marked the 25th anniversary of that tragic day, and Del Mar College observed the lives lost as the Public Service Department’s Regional Fire and Police Academies held a “Memorial Stair Climb” in honor of first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice to save lives. The ceremony was open to the public.
Melissa Stuive, Public Service Department chair who oversees the college’s programs associated with emergency response training, said, “It’s important to remember those who gave their lives to save lives, and we want to also stress the significance of this day to our students who were not even born when 9/11 happened.”
Following traditional protocol, the ceremony aligned with the Sept. 11 timeline to recognize the moment’s first impact on the nation and even the world. The event timeline included a bell ringing prior to each scheduled Moment of Silence as follows:
- 8:46 a.m.: first Moment of Silence marking the exact time American Airlines Flight No. 11 struck the World Trade Center (WTC) North Tower followed by recognition reading for fallen fire, EMS and law enforcement responders.
- 9:03 a.m.: second Moment of Silence marking the exact time United Airlines Flight No. 175 struck the WTC South Tower.
- 9:37 a.m.: third Moment of Silence marking the exact time American Airlines Flight No. 77 struck the Pentagon.
- 9:59 a.m.: fourth Moment of Silence marking the collapse of the WTC South Tower.
- 10:03 a.m.: fifth Moment of Silence marking the exact time United Airlines Flight No. 93 crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
- 10:28 a.m.: final Moment of Silence observing the collapse of the WTC North Tower.
- 10:30 a.m.: Led by Corpus Christi Fire Department Chief Brandon Wade, the Memorial Stair Climb begins with about 100 DMC Emergency Medical Technician/Paramedic students and Fire Science and Police Academy cadets carrying up to 40 pounds of equipment and the name of a fallen 9/11 first responder. The climb is open to anyone who feels the call to participate.
The Memorial Stair Climb took cadets and other participants about two hours to complete. The climb was equivalent to the 110 stories of both WTC towers or 28 ascents in the Public Service Department’s Burn Tower. Participants’ descent is not counted as part of the Memorial Stair Climb.
The college’s Public Service Department has held its Memorial Stair Climb for more than 20 years, “but the impact of our observance has only grown since the department now includes cadets too young to have experienced that day firsthand,” noted Stuive.
Del Mar College empowers students to achieve their dreams. The college offers quality programs, individual attention, outstanding instruction through faculty with real-world experience and affordability to credit and noncredit students in Corpus Christi and across the South Texas Coastal Bend region. Nationally recognized while locally focused, Del Mar College provides students programs that match current or emerging career opportunities in the area. Whether students are interested in the fine arts, sciences, business, occupational or technical areas, students get the education they need for the future they want at Del Mar College.