Tulsa Tech Students Remember Fallen 9/11 First Responders With Stair Climb

Tulsa Tech criminal justice students climbed 110 flights of stairs to remember the ultimate sacrifice made by first responders on September 11th, 2001.

Each student carried the name of a fallen first responder, and with each step, they wanted to give honor to those law enforcement officers who died on 9/11.

Hermione Villanueva is climbing in honor of Moira Smith.

“She's actually the only female NYPD officer that died on 9/11, she rescued so many lives by going in and out of the building, pulling people out,” said Hermione Villanueva. 

She says it's important to share Moira's story since she's not here to do so herself.

Denise Henry is an instructor in the program and says this shows the students how first responders are willing to give their lives to save others.

“It's really about learning about what first responders did on that day, they climbed 110 flights, knowing they weren't coming home,” said Denise Henry.

These students weren't alive on 9/11, but their instructors say it's still important they learn about that day and never forget.

“They know it's an important part of history, and for us as first responders, they know it's a major part of our history, it's basically the pillar of what we are teaching them, which is we go into the unknown every day, we go into things that people are running from,” she said.

As she thinks of Moira with every step she takes, Hermione says she will never forget how these officers sacrificed everything.

“I'm thinking about her, and all of the people who lost their lives, not just the first responders, but all the victims, the tragedy, the family of them as well, because the first responders we are representing, we are taking them home to our families since they weren't able to,” she said.