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Jackson residents and local emergency service workers hiked up Snow King Mountain to honor those who risked their lives — to save lives during and in the months following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
The pitter-patter of rain Wednesday afternoon marked the start of Jackson Hole Fire/EMS’s annual memorial hike on the 23rd anniversary of 9/11.
The somber, wet setting did not sway dozens who began the hike at the base of Snow King Mountain. They hiked nearly to the summit, where a sign told them they’d reached the equivalent of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center.
Battalion Chief Brian Coe said it’s Jackson’s rendition of similar events held in large skyscrapers in many cities nationwide, to commemorate the first responders and thousands of others who lost their lives due to the events of 9-11.
Jackson Hole Fire/EMS Battalion Chief Brian Coe said similar memorial events nationwide are held in skyscrapers and participants climb flights of stairs. Coe said they decided on Snow King because Jackson may not have skyscrapers but it does have mountains. (Dante Filpula Ankney/KHOL)
He stood underneath a pavilion in the park handing out hundreds of ID badges to participants prepping for the hike. Each had the names and photos of first responders who died saving lives.
“Of those first responders that were killed, we do have their ID badges and we’re going to take all 411 responders up with us,” Coe said.
Residents clipped the ID badges onto their vests, jackets and hats. Some first responders like several firefighters in full uniform, from helmets to boots, clipped badges to their cuffs and seams.
Participants in the event clipped multiple ID badges of the 411 first responders killed on 9/11 to their jackets, vests and hats before starting the hike up Snow King. (Dante Filpula Ankney/KHOL)
Coe joined the fire service in Jackson around the same time as 9/11 and said he’s been at nearly every memorial in town since.
“It’s something that we can hold dear,” Coe said, “and it’s something as a Jackson community, we can make sure that we are holding that promise of ‘Never Forget.’”
Coe added that the brave actions of not only first responders but also concerned citizens on 9/11, can serve as a lesson in the wake of tragedy.
“Something that I think our community can keep in mind is the fact that whenever we have an event, maybe not to the scale of 9/11, maybe just on an individual scale, that we can all step up and be heroes in a lot of different respects,” Coe said.
Coe hopes more residents and first responders alike will begin to make the town’s memorial events including the hike and a flag ceremony held earlier in the day in the town square, an annual tradition. Many, he said, are still suffering from loved ones lost and lingering health effects.
Nic Landstrom, Biko Kavalam and Dunja Jovicic began their hike in the rain. The group agreed, a hike is easier when it’s serving a purpose. (Dante Filpula Ankney/KHOL)
