Annual 9/11 NH Memorial Stair Climb close to symbolic goal of 343 participants

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Symbolic goal for 15th anniversary

This year participants will once again repeat the footsteps of the 343 New York City firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty on Sept. 11, 2001.


Annual 9/11 NH Stair Climb.
Annual 9/11 NH Stair Climb set for Sept. 11, 2016 at the Brady Sullivan Tower on Elm Street in Manchester.

Screen Shot 2016 09 07 at 9.31.23 PM e1473298700551MANCHESTER, NH – This year’s sixth-annual New Hampshire 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb will take place on Sept. 11 at the Brady Sullivan Plaza on Elm Street, and will commemorate the 15th anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center in New York City. Participants will  repeat the footsteps of the 343 New York City firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty.

“Our goal is to get 343 people registered this year,” said Greg Bolduc, a Manchester Firefighter who has been coordinating this event since its inception here, along with Bill Campbell, a Nashua Firefighter, who was serving as a New York City firefighter on Sept. 11. Bolduc said this will be the last year he and Campbell coordinate the event. They are ready to pass the baton.

The annual stair climb is all about remembrance.
The annual stair climb is all about remembrance.

Although the event is always meaningful, having it on the actual anniversary of the terror attacks has inspired Bolduc and Campbell to work toward getting at least 343 registrants – which will be a first, since they began organizing the event five years ago. Bowing out on the 15th anniversary felt right.

“Hopefully it will continue here if someone wants to step up,” Bolduc said. “It’s an unbelievable event, but it’s a lot of work to coordinate.”

The event is hosted by Fire Instructors and Officers Association of New Hampshire (FIOANH), which benefits the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

Similar events are planned for around the country on or close to Sept. 11.

Nashua Firefighter Bill Campbell, left, with George Burnham, center, and Manchester Firefighter Greg Bolduc.
Nashua Firefighter Bill Campbell, left, with George Burnham, center, and Manchester Firefighter Greg Bolduc.

Bolduc said one of the reasons he and Campbell look forward to the event each year is that it brings out the best in people.

“There is a particular gentleman, his name is George Burnham, and he comes every year to our stair climb from Arizona,” says Bolduc. “He travels the country to do the stair climbs every year. He told us ours is the best, because it’s the most organized. We were so humbled by the fact that he comes all the way to New Hampshire that whenever he comes, we find him a hotel, and we feed him and make sure he gets back and forth to the airport.”

  • Registration is open  and is $35 with 100 percent of proceeds going to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. All participants will receive a commemorative T-shirt.

The stair climb is a way for firefighters across the state and region to gather together to send a message that the sacrifices made that day by their fellow firefighters will not be forgotten.  The climb is designed to equate to 110 stories, the height of the World Trade Center Twin Towers.

Participants at the Brady Sullivan Tower simulate the steps taken by the 343 firefighters who died on 9/11.
Participants at the Brady Sullivan Tower simulate the steps taken by the 343 firefighters who died on 9/11.

Each participant will begin in the basement level of 1000 Elm Street, Brady Sullivan Plaza, and climb to the 20th floor. Participants will then take an elevator back down to the basement and repeat the process five more times, with a final decent to the 10th floor, climbing back to the 20th level equaling a total of 110 stories.

Climbers should plan to arrive at 7 a.m., with registration at 7:15 a.m. The climb will begin at 9 a.m. Event parking will be at the attached parking garage to the rear of 1000 Elm Street, Brady Sullivan Plaza. There will be no charge for parking for the day for participants, family and staff.

Not up for the climb, but want to be involved?

  • Consider being a Volunteer!  Email volunteer@nh9-11stairclimb.org to sign up or for more information.
  • Consider being a Sponsor!  Donations of bottled water or healthy snacks for climbers are appreciated, as well as donations of gift cards, gift baskets, or gift items for the event raffle.  Email volunteer@nh9-11stairclimb.org if interested or for more information.
  • Make a monetary donation!  Donations can be made through the Registration link.

Follow the 9/11 New Hampshire Memorial Stair Climb on Facebook.

About this Author

Carol Robidoux

PublisherManchester Ink Link

Longtime NH journalist and publisher of ManchesterInkLink.com. Loves R&B, German beer, and the Queen City!