Run for remembrance

by Senior Airman Michael Washburn
374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

9/12/2014 - YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- In homage of firefighters who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001, the 374 Civil Engineer Squadron fire department hosted a memorial tower run Sept. 11, 2014.

"The 343 Firefighters that passed away on Sept. 11 made it up to the 110th floor in full gear trying to get people out after the first plane hit the towers," said Tech. Sgt. Stephen Sanabria, 374 CES firefighter. "We're trying to simulate that today."

Five four-person teams came out to compete in the run. Each member had to run to the ninth floor of a base tower wearing a 30-pound air tank, and run back down, where the next member would be waiting to go. Each person had to make the climb twice and the team with the fastest overall time took home a trophy.

"Sept. 11 is such a significant day in our history and it's important for us to pause and mark the sacrifices of everyone that we lost that day," said Lt. Col. David McCleese, 374 CES commander. "To us as emergency responders and firefighters, it's especially dear because those that were lost were family."

Some may have participated to test themselves or to exercise, but Airman Sean McMillan, 374 CES structural apprentice, did it to honor a fallen relative.

McMillan is a Manhattan, NY, native and was there when the attacks took place.

"My Uncle was a Port Authority (Police Department) officer and was killed, so I do something every year to honor him."

The winning team for this year's Tower Run with an overall time of 21:47 was the 374 Surgical Operations Squadron.