ROTC cadets with students run a 2,071-stair challenge to remember heroes of 9/11.
Two thousand and seventy-one — the number of steps in the World Trade Center heroic first responders ran up Sept. 11, 2001.
On Friday, the 14th anniversary, cadets and civilians ran the same number of stairs at Peden Stadium for Ohio University ROTC’s first Stair Challenge Memorial.
Cadet Rebecca Drakulic, a junior studying criminology who planned the event, recalled coming up with the idea last year.
“We wanted a way to bring the community together,” Drakulic said. “I think it’s an important day in American history. I wouldn’t be here in this career without it.”
Other cadets of OU’s Army ROTC program, also known as the Bobcat Battalion, and an instructor echoed Drakulic’s sentiment.
Sgt. First Class Nicholas Brinckman, an OU military science instructor for the ROTC program, said, “I was a senior in high school when it happened. This is the day I chose to join the military.”
For Cadet Ed Long, a sophomore studying business and pre-law, Friday is his army anniversary, as well.
“Today is my two-year army anniversary. This day means a lot. Glad to be here,” Long said after completing the stair challenge in about 20 minutes.
With 140 cadets in attendance, the number of participants was nearly doubled with civilian students, community members and two individuals dressed in full firefighting gear.
Alex Fortunato, a sophomore studying accounting, was in attendance and came out early Friday morning “just to show support for the country.”
Drakulic is looking forward to next year, and so are others.
“We’re definitely doing this next year,” Brinckman said.
@kaitfoch
