A traveling 9/11 exhibit that includes beams from the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers will visit the Rochester area the first week in September, the same time as several events honoring first responders and victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
"America United: The Days After 9/11," by the Children's Museum in Oak Lawn, Illinois, tells how Americans came together in the aftermath of the attacks. “This exhibit provides an interactive space for visitors to reflect, learn, and share their thoughts on unity, resilience, and the spirit of helping others,” a Facebook post says on the Rochester NY 9-11 NFFF Memorial Stair Climb and Family Walk page.
Not all times and places had been determined as of Aug. 26. Confirmed times are:
- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, at the Webster Recreation Building, 1350 Chiyoda Drive
- 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, during the Fleet Feet First Responders 5K
- 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, West Webster Association building, 1053 Gravel Road, during the 9-11 Memorial Bike Ride through Webster and West Webster;
- 8 to 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 6, at ESL Ballpark during the Rochester NY National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Stair Climb and Family Walk.
First Responders 5K
The First
Responders 5K will begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, at Webster Firemen’s Field, 1193-1207 Ridge Road. Registration ends at 1 p.m. online; there is no on-site registration. The fee is $43.40, $20.08 for active first responders 18 and older.
Awards will be presented to the fastest racer in full uniform or gear; the top three overall male and female runners ($200, $100 and $75); and the top three males and females in five age groups.
People can create teams to race with; all are coed and there is no limit on numbers. For the first time, a prize will be awarded to the fastest first responder team, based on the top three fastest times per team.
“We hope that this event can raise awareness for PTSD in First Responders, and raise funds for FRST Agency, local charity that will provide support, awareness, assets, and services to First Responders seeking assistance in dealing with the effects of PTSD,” according to the race’s website, https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Webster/ROCFirstResponders5K. A portion of proceeds, plus all additional donations, will go to the First Responders Special Treatment (FRST) Agency.
The race is part of the nine-race Fleet Feet Grand Prix Series.
Bike ride and stair climb
People can sign up now to participate in or sponsor the 9-11 Memorial Bike Ride and the Rochester NY 9-11 NFFF Memorial Stair Climb and Family Walk.
Participants will receive a 25th anniversary T-shirt. Top fundraisers will receive items such as a custom Rochester 25th Anniversary Challenge Coin, a phone holder and a stainless steel drink bottle.
The fee for people participating in both events is $60; fees for people participating in only one vary. Register at https://nfff.akaraisin.com/ui/rochester26/pledge/registration/start.
The 9/11 Memorial Bike Ride will be at the West Webster Fire Department, 1051 Gravel Road. The fee for the ride alone is $40. Check-in and registration will be from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.; on-site registration must be paid with cash or check. Bikes will depart at 8:46 a.m. One course is 19 miles long, the other 9. Awards and a light breakfast will be provided afterward.
The Rochester NY NFFF 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb will be held Sunday, Sept. 6, at ESL Ballpark, where each participant will climb the equivalent of the World Trade Center's 110 stories in honor of the 343 New York City firefighters who died there. People also can participate virtually.
The event is open to the public.
Online registration closes at midnight Sept. 2.
On Sept. 6, onsite registration starts at 7:15 a.m. The opening ceremony is at 8:35 a.m., and the climb starts at 9:11 a.m. and ends at 10:30 a.m.
Besides groups of business workers and other people, teams include firefighters from Gates, West Webster, Caledonia, Fairport, Spencerport, Honeoye Falls, Brockport, Brighton and Spencerport; fire department ladies auxiliaries from Spencerport and West Webster; and Gates police officers.
To donate to an individual or to a team, go to https://nfff.akaraisin.com/ui/rochester26/pledge/sponsor/start.
Proceeds will fund National Fallen Firefighter Fund programs that support families of local fallen firefighters and the Fire Department of New York’s Counseling Service Unit.
The ballpark is at 1 Morrie Silver Way.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Unique 9/11 artifact to tour Rochester as events honor 25th anniversary
