On Sunday the Enmarket Arena was eerily silent. Missing were the raucous crowds and amplified music. In their place, firefighters were quietly getting ready. Small groups carefully pulled on bunker gear and strapped air bottles on their back.

“We’re not here today for competition. We’re not gathered here for some exercise.” Savannah firefighter and organizer Mike Thomspon said into a microphone. “We’re gathered here for remembrance.”

In near silence the participants steadily snaked their way up and down the steps around the arena as they participated in the 3 rd annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Voices from the past echoed through the arena as the radio traffic recorded from the New York Fire Department on Sept. 11, 2001, played in the background.

Each participant completed a circuit

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