CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Hundreds of firefighters, police officers, and EMTs from around the country joined together Saturday to “finish the journey” for their fellow first responders killed at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
There were a lot of emotions for the 343 firefighters, 60 police officers, and 8 EMT’s killed that day. But this year, the tragedies hit closer to home with at least three local firefighters who died in the line of duty.
In April, Pineville volunteer firefighter Richard Sheltra, 20, died fighting a fire at a shopping center on Pineville-Matthews Road. An autopsy showed he ran out of air in his oxygen tank.
A little over a month later, Capt. Bradley Long of Newton Fire Department died while on a search and recovery dive in Lake Norman for Sherrills Ford – Terrell Fire Rescue. Two weeks after that, East Lincoln firefighter Josh Warren collapsed and died while working out while on duty.
“It will be rough on us, but we’ll get through it,” said Pineville Fire Chief Michael Gerin before the department’s team lined up for the climb. They were second in line, behind a team from New York Fire Department.
“It gives us the opportunity to not only remember the 343 and all those who went before us, but especially to remember Richard,” said Gerin.
Sheltra’s father Michael joined the group, wearing his son’s helmet – number 73. Sheltra’s mother Linay stood at the landing on the 73rd flight to thank firefighters and cheer them on. A small memorial with Sheltra’s turnout gear and pictures were mounted nearby.
Climbers took to a total of 110 flights – just like the number of stories in the World Trade Center – which meant they climbed the 50-story Duke Energy Center twice, then went up 10 more flights.
Tyler Sheltra, Richard’s sister, also encouraged first responders as they made the long journey to 110. It has been a hard summer for her parents and the Pineville VFD, which she said is “like family.”
“It’s emotional but it’s a good emotion,” she said. “It brings us a lot of joy to be surrounded by these men and women.”
Volunteers sold T-shirts for the new Richard Sheltra Memorial Foundation, created to help buy equipment and training for firefighters.
“It’s a cause he showed a lot of empathy for, so it was only natural for us to give back to that community,” said Tyler Sheltra.
As each climber entered the building, they rang a bell for a life lost on 9-11. It helps the first responders, and especially the Sheltra family, remember the sacrifices made.
“Just remember Richard how he was a hero,” said Tyler Sheltra.