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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Have a strong opinion about something happening on campus or in Fort Collins? Want to respond to an article written on The Collegian? Write a Letter to the Editor by following the guidelines here.

Letter to the editor submissions

Have a strong opinion about something happening on campus or in Fort Collins? Want to respond to an article written on The Collegian? Write a Letter to the Editor by following the guidelines here.

NoCo 9/11 Memorial, Stair Climb honors heroes, lives lost 24 years later

Allie Seibel, Editor in Chief

September 15, 2025

Collegian | Cait Mckinzie

Participants of the Northern Colorado 9/11 Memorial and Stair Climb event take the first lap around Canvas Stadium Sept. 11. The circuit, weaving up and down stairs of the stadium’s east side, was walked four times by participants to equate the 110 stories walked by first responders in the World Trade Center.

The crowd that gathered at Canvas Stadium Sept. 11 for the Northern Colorado 9/11 Memorial and Stair Climb quieted during the national anthem as both a UCHealth emergency response helicopter and an Army Black Hawk chopper, piloted by a Colorado State University graduate, circled low over the field — one part of local law enforcement’s commitment to honoring the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001.

The equivalent of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center, participants at the stair climb made four laps around sixteen sections of Canvas Stadium, climbing 2,071 steps.

A Poudre Fire Authority firefighter climbs a row of stairs in Canvas Stadium during the Northern Colorado 9/11 Memorial and Stair Climb Sept. 11. (Collegian | Cait Mckinzie)

Representatives from Poudre Fire Authority, Colorado State Patrol, the CSU Police Department, Fort Collins Emergency Medical Services and Fort Collins Police Services were among the first responders represented by members participating in the stair climb.

“It’s a great time just to come together and remember a tragic event (and) honor those who were lost,” said Nathan Carr, Northern Colorado’s port of entry officer for Colorado State Patrol. “It’s just a way for that team to get together and be with the community out here.”

Participants were assigned a badge upon entry for the stair climb that was associated with a fallen hero on 9/11, representing first responders in New York City, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania who responded to the plane crashes. Opening ceremonies emcee and Poudre Fire Authority Chief Derek Bergsten encouraged participants to research their chosen fallen hero after the stair climb.

Stair climbers followed a procession of bagpipes up the stairs by section 100 at Canvas Stadium to begin the climb. Fully uniformed members of Poudre Fire Authority led the climb, wearing full protective fire suits and breathing apparatuses to simulate what the experience would have been like for first responders inside of the twin towers.

A participant carries an American flag while climbing stadium stairs during the Northern Colorado 9/11 Memorial and Stair Climb Sept. 11. Community members all around Northern Colorado were invited to walk a path up and down the stairs of Colorado State University’s Canvas Stadium enough times to match the 110 stories climbed by search and rescue responders at the World Trade Center. (Collegian | Cait Mckinzie)

“This is my first opportunity to participate in the stair climb,” said Daniel, a rookie firefighter with PFA who only provided a first name. “Just remembering everyone that lost their lives and made the ultimate sacrifice is important, so I’m here to honor those people and represent firefighters and other first responders.”

This is the second time the memorial and stair climb has been held at Canvas Stadium. Other memorial climbs across Colorado included a nationwide firefighter-exclusive climb at the Guard and Grace building in Denver, and a climb at the Manitou Incline in Colorado Springs.

Participants of the Northern Colorado 9/11 Memorial and Stair Climb event take the first lap around Canvas Stadium Sept. 11. The circuit, weaving up and down stairs of the stadium’s east side, was walked four times to equate the 110 stories walked by first responders in the World Trade Center. (Collegian | Cait Mckinzie)

The memorial was open to community members as well as first responders, and CSU students Abby, Izzy and Pearl, who only provided first names, were among the student participants.

“I’m here supporting the families, those who lost their lives during 9/11 and supporting first responders,” Abby said. “It’s important to stay involved in the community and show some love for the community, for the Rams and Fort Collins.”

All three participants were feeling “ready” to take on the stair climb.

Larimer County Ranger Zack Cook plays the bagpipes as he leads participants of the Northern Colorado 9/11 Memorial and Stair Climb to the route they will take through Canvas Stadium Sept. 11. He met up with another piper and played several songs as the first lap began, including “Amazing Grace.” (Collegian | Cait Mckinzie)

PFA provided water bottles and snacks to participants who needed to take a break in between laps. In addition to first aid and medical support, canine support dogs from Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry, which is based out of Redeemer Lutheran Church, were present to provide emotional support.

“The mission is for people to pet our dogs, whether they need comfort or calmness in any situation, but we just love seeing the smiles when they see the Goldens,” said Bonnie Fear, an employee of LCC.

With LCC were two golden retrievers to provide support for stair climbers and first responders who might have been emotionally affected by the memorial.

“We’re here for them,” Fear said. “We’re here to commemorate what happened 24 years ago. We know that it can stir up some emotions. We’re here for that, or we’re here for joy, and people just love the dogs and calmness we can bring. So we just want to be here to honor first responders.”

A Poudre Fire Authority firefighter descends a row of stairs in Canvas Stadium during the Northern Colorado 9/11 Memorial and Stair Climb Sept. 11. Many firefighters chose to wear full breathing gear like the type worn by first responders entering the World Trade Center. (Collegian | Cait Mckinzie)

In addition to stair climb participants and family members who gathered to watch around the New Belgium Porch, community leaders gathered for the memorial, including members of Fort Collins City Council and local Northern Colorado government.

“This event is important for the city and the community,” said Mayor Pro Tem Emily Francis, who is also a board member of PFA. “It’s a great event to memorialize 9/11, and I’m out here to support firefighters and first responders. I think this is an experience of what it was like that day, and just a nice way to pay tribute.”

Bergsten confirmed that the stair climb will return to Canvas Stadium again in 2026 to mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11.

Reach Allie Seibel at news@collegian.com or on social media @allie_seibel_.

About the Contributors

Allie Seibel, Editor in Chief

Allie Seibel is returning for her third and final year as editor-in-chief of The Collegian. Seibel is a senior studying journalism and media communication with minors in business administration, legal studies and political science. Following graduation in May, she plans to attend law school. She is a member of the CSU Honors program and also serves as an Honors ambassador, and she delights in getting to interact with prospective and new honors students each year. She is also involved around campus with the Straayer Center for Public Service Leadership, recently completing the CSU in D.C. internship program where she served as a communications intern with the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators based in Washington, D.C. She is a member of both the Society of Professional Journalists and Phi Alpha Delta pre-law fraternity. Seibel has won journalistic awards on both the state and national levels across her years and focuses her reporting mainly on state and local politics in Fort Collins and Colorado, as well as investigative reporting. Seibel’s journey to this, her final year at The Collegian, began before her college career even started, hired as news editor before she began as a student on campus. From there, she became the editor in chief of The Collegian her sophomore year and is the first to hold three terms at the helm of the 134-year-old institution. Seibel is deeply committed to the legacy of The Collegian both in print and online, and she takes the responsibility of safeguarding the paper, alongside ensuring constant innovation and relevancy, very seriously. She has never been prouder of anything than she is of her three — soon to be four — years of work at this newspaper. Outside of work and other responsibilities, Seibel can be found tucked away with a book, trying out a new recipe, planning out where in the world she wants to travel to next, cross stitching or completing yet another paint-by-numbers kit that her apartment walls do not have space for. Seibel credits The Collegian with giving her a voice and allowing her to find her strength. She has entered her final year with bittersweet anticipation for what is to come.

Cait Mckinzie, Photo Director

Cait Mckinzie is a third-year student double majoring in art and journalism and media communication. She is the returning photo director for the 2025-26 school year. As an out-of-state student from Renton, Washington, there wasn’t much in Fort Collins Mckinzie was familiar with when she first started at Colorado State University. But in high school, she was the co-head of visuals for her school newspaper, so she applied to The Collegian as a photographer during her first year to get back into a similar environment. At the end of her year as a freelancer, she was trained by Milo Gladstein and Garrett Mogel, her photo directors, to take over Gladstein’s position when he graduated. She attributes most of her photojournalistic experience — and some of her sense of humor — to them. Most of Mckinzie’s photography experience, though, comes from her grandfather. A photographer for most of his life, he gifted Mckinzie her first camera in her junior year of high school and taught her how to use it. With his guidance, she improved her skills during high school enough to get her to The Collegian, a paper that now takes up a large amount of her time. Mckinzie is excited for another year at The Collegian and aims to make her photo desk one Gladstein and Mogel would be proud of.

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