DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Hundreds of ROTC cadets gathered at Daytona International Speedway to participate in the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb.
The event honors the firefighters who responded to the World Trade Center attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
The event is organized by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University students, marking the third year the student body has held the tribute.
Between 600 and 700 cadets representing Army, Air Force and Navy ROTC detachments are participating in the stair climb.
Participants climb 2,100 steps, reflecting the exact number of stairs New York firefighters climbed inside the World Trade Center towers.
Each step taken during the morning tribute represents the memory and sacrifice of the emergency responders.
For many of the cadets involved, the climb carries personal meaning.
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