BHS Students Take Part In Clayton Stair Climb

September 11, 2001 is a date in American history that will be remembered forever. Approximately 2,996 people were killed during this horrific event, and another 6,000 were wounded. Of these 2,996, 343 firefighters lost their lives in the Twin Towers.

Senior Wyatt Ertl and sophomore Lane Volkmann of Bourbon High School may not have been born yet or even old enough to remember this devastating day, but they both still recognize the significance of it. Both of these students are volunteer firefighters at Bourbon’s local department. Although still only in high school, Ertl, son of John and Valli Ertl, is now going on his fifth year of volunteering for the department and Volkmann, son of Scott and Michelle Volkmann, is entering his second.

On Saturday, Sept. 9, Ertl and Volkmann, along with fellow Sullivan firefighters Austin Mesey, Nick White and Ryan Sumpter, participated in the 2017 Clayton 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Each participant pays tribute to an FDNY firefighter by climbing the equivalent of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center. With firefighter, paramedic, police and community participation, each of the 343 firefighters is honored.

Ertl and Volkmann, accompanied by the other firefighters, began their ascent in full gear. While others may have wore shorts and t-shirts during the climb, Ertl and Volkmann were sporting their coats, pants, boots, and a SCBA. Ertl also wore a harness and estimated his equipment to weigh 85-100 lbs.

The Memorial Stair Climb was held in a Clayton office building. Participants climbed to the top of the building 5 times to replicate the 110 stories of the Twin Towers. When the climb was completed, each person rang a bell for his fallen firefighter and read the name. Ertl represented Jeffrey Giordano from Engine 3; Volkmann represented Thomas R. Kelly from Ladder 11.

Both Ertl and Volkmann said the second trip up the stairs was the hardest. “After the second time up, I could really feel it in my hips and lower back,” commented Ertl. “Hearing others reach the top, and ring the bell, motivated us to keep going.” Volkmann said by his second time up his legs had gone numb but his motivation was the same as Ertl’s. Both of the boys were relentless in finishing the climb due to the constant support that they received from each other. Ertl commented that is was a “good bonding experience and great to see the brotherhood among fellow first responders.”