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‘This is a humbling experience, It will humble you’

Area firefighters participate in 9/11 memorial climb

By Clay Schuldt 6 min read

LAKE CRYSTAL - Friday, on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, firefighters from four area departments paid tribute to those who sacrificed everything to save lives through a memorial climb of the POET Bioprocessing grain bin outside Lake Crystal.

The staircase leading to the top of the grain bin has 143 steps. Nicollet firefighter Peter Finken did the calculations. It would take 14.5 trips up and down the stairs to match the number of steps in one of the World Trade Center towers. That would be roughly 2,000 steps.

Members from Nicollet, Courtland, Lake Crystal and St. Peter fire departments all participated in this year's memorial climb along with a former National Guard member and an airline pilot.

Before starting the climb, Finken told everyone participating to pace themselves and not overdo it, as the climb would be grueling.

"Let's not forget why we are here," he said. "This is a humbling experience. It will humble you."

The 9/11 memorial climb at POET was first organized by Finken.

He had been working at POET Bioprocessing and had climbed the steps to the top of the grain bin many times and realized it could work for a 9/11 memorial climb. After he joined the Nicollet Fire Department, he decided to ask POET if he could do a memorial climb.

"They said I could do it as long as someone was watching," Finken said. "That ended up being my wife Amber."

That first year Finken climbed the POET steps by himself and every year since more firefighters have joined him.

The second year, six firefighters climbed the steps. Last year nine climbed the steps and this year they had 12 climbing. Finken said more had asked to join, but he said after 12 it becomes difficult for everyone to climb up and down the steps.

Twenty-five years ago on the day of the attack, Finken was almost 5 years old.

"I was in the living room and I saw it on the TV," he said. "I was too young to understand it. I am surprised I do remember it, but it left an impact."

Finken said the 9/11 attacks inspired him to join the National Guard and later to become a firefighter.

"It is cool to see the impact this climb has had and who it has inspired," Finken said.

One of the people who was inspired to join the climb this year was Finken's father, Dan, who is an airline pilot. He attended the climb wearing his uniform to honor the pilots and flight crew who were killed on that day. In his pocket, Dan Finken carried a list of the planes and the flight crew members lost on 9/11 as he climbed.

"They were my brothers too," Dan Finken said.

The day of the 9/11 attacks, Dan Finken was at home with Peter. He remembers he was still asleep when the attack happened. His wife woke him, telling him something happened.

"Everything changed after that," Dan Finken said. "That's why I am in uniform now for the climb."

He was proud of his son for organizing this memorial and he was honored to participate.

In addition to his father, Peter's mom, wife and two kids attended the climb. This is the first time his daughter Anna, 7, and son Joshua, 4, were able to attend the climb as observers.

"Both of them were begging to see it, so we arranged to get them out of school for the day," Peter Finken said.

Asked if they were thinking about being firefighters some day, Anna said "maybe," and Joshua said "definitely."

This is the second year former National Guard member Brandon Fluegge participated in the climb. Fluegge's birthday is Sept. 11. He was exactly 2 years old when the attack happened.

"I don't remember the day," he said. "But I see the pictures and the videos and that's how I remember it. It was an influence in joining the National Guard and its why I am here. I am just trying to do justice to those lost."

Nicollet firefighter Alec Smith participated in last year's climb and was eager to return this year.

He remembers 25 years ago learning of the attack while in ninth grade Spanish class.

"I am not sure if that directly influenced me to become a firefighter, but it does change your view of the event once you join," Smith said. "As a firefighter, you understand the risk they took in entering the World Trade Center."

Before the climb, Smith and fellow firefighter Roberto Reyes made sure to stretch their muscles. The two knew that the climb would be physically grueling.

Smith said the New York firefighters on 9/11 did not have time to prepare before going into the tower.

"The whole thing was unprecedented," he said. "A fire in a high-rise that size, that's not something you can train for, but they still went in. That's why I am happy to be part of this climb."

The firefighters participating in the climb wore their full gear as they went up and down the POET stairs.

Courtland firefighter Danielle Schlumpberger said the extra fire gear adds an average of 60 lbs. The boots alone are 10 lbs.

"I was in eighth grade and New Ulm Middle School," Schlumpberger said. "At the time I didn't understand. In a small town you don't really understand something like that. It was not something I ever expected could happen."

Twenty-five years later, Schlumpberger has kids of her own and they are starting to ask questions.

"Trying to explain the meaning of it all to them is difficult," she said.

Schlumpberger was grateful to participate in the memorial climb as a way to remember those who fell on 9/11 but she also believed it was a great team building exercise.

"The camaraderie you build is great," she said. "As a small fire department, we rely on others for support. This climb is a great way to help build those relationships."

Peter Finken said the memorial climb was also being used to raise awareness for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF). Finken said so far they have raised $3,200. Anyone who is interested in donating can do so directly on the NFFF website https://www.firehero.org/

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