AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today October 13, 2026
Ohio State University Commemorates 25th Anniversary of 9/11
On the morning of September 11, more than 3,100 individuals came together at Ohio Stadium for The Ohio State University’s annual 9/11 memorial stair climb. Marking a record turnout, the event honored the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Participants included a range of university members—students, faculty, staff—as well as local first responders, ROTC cadets, and midshipmen.
Stair Climb Honors First Responders’ Sacrifice
The 9/11 memorial stair climb serves as a symbolic gesture emulating the heroism of first responders who ascended the World Trade Center towers on that fateful day. Each participant climbed the equivalent of 110 flights of stairs, representing the 110 floors of the Twin Towers. The climb, which lasted 45 minutes, is designed not only as a physical challenge but as an act of remembrance for those lost and the bravery displayed.
Tri-Service ROTC Hosts Annual Commemoration Event
The annual event is organized by Ohio State’s tri-service ROTC departments: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. The stair climb has grown in popularity each year, with the 25th anniversary drawing record attendance. Supporters gathered before dawn, reinforcing the values of community unity and patriotic remembrance inherent in the commemoration.
Speakers Reflect on Legacy and Patriotism
Trevor Brown, the university’s interim executive vice president and provost, addressed the crowd, emphasizing the privilege of life and community. "There’s nothing like a little pain and discomfort, and soon the morning sunrise, to remind you that you’re alive. It’s a privilege," he told attendees, encouraging them to remember the significance of the day as they participated.
The keynote speaker, Maj. Gen. John C. Harris Jr. (Ret.), director of the Ohio Department of Veterans Services, spoke about the continued significance of the American flag and the enduring importance of remembering 9/11. "The flag does not wave over our armed forces, our economic systems. It waves over the land of the free and the brave," Harris noted, urging participants to reflect on their role in upholding these values.
Community Unity Among the Buckeye Community
For many, including Emilia Riddell, a third-year graduate student in the occupational therapy doctorate program, the event was moving and a testament to the strength of the Buckeye community. Riddell, who collaborates with the Upper Arlington Fire Department, expressed gratitude for the presence of first responders and the sense of unity among all attendees. "The Buckeye community is already so strong. Like anywhere you go, you see Ohio State gear. I knew it was already a tight community, but coming together for more than just Ohio State, seeing surrounding communities come in, it’s just incredible," she said.
Patriotic Remembrance and Lasting Impact
The Ohio Stadium stair climb annually serves as a powerful commemoration event, drawing the university and its supporters together in patriotic remembrance. By honoring first responders and reflecting upon the events of September 11, the Ohio State University community reinforces its commitment to unity, service, and collective memory.
Source: news.osu.edu.
