09/11/2026
Today, we remember the lives lost 25 years ago on September 11, 2001.
This morning, I climbed 40 stories in full turnout gear to honor the first responders who ran toward danger on that tragic day. For me, it was only an exercise—I knew I was safe. I knew I could stop. What I did does not compare to what first responders faced that morning, but it gave me an even greater appreciation for the weight they carried, in every sense of the word. I also had the solemn responsibility of reading 400 names of the nearly 3,000 people who died. The ceremony was a small act of respect for them, for those who have lived with the physical and emotional consequences ever since, and for the first responders who continue to answer the call every day.
Thank you to Rep. Natalie Mihalek for inviting me to take part and to all the fire companies that participated, including the Upper St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department. Special thanks to Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire Captain Tim Leech and McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority Chief Chris Dell for helping me gear up for the climb.