Hobart Firefighter Lt. Brian DeGrauwe was just a young teen on 9/11, but the events that day led to his decision to become a firefighter.

“It definitely was an influential moment in my life,” DeGrauwe said.

DeGrauwe, along with fellow firefighters and police officers, was at Chicago Health & Fitness in Hobart on Thursday to pay tribute to the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives on 9/11.

Firefighters and police, all wearing their uniforms and carrying their standard gear, took turns working out on the stair climb, walking the equivalent of 110 floors.

Nearby Pipe Major Craig Brooks played songs, including Amazing Grace, on his bagpipes.

“It’s a very special day,” said Mario Daklala, Chicago Health & Fitness gym owner.

In Porter County, Valparaiso police and firefighters held a si

See Full Page