On September 10, 2016, members of the Capitol Heights Volunteer Fire Department honored those lost on 9/11 by participating in the 2016 National Capital Region 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb & 5K Walk.
The National Capital Region 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb & 5K Walk honors firefighters and police officers that were killed on 9/11. Participants climb 110 stories or walk 5K in honor of a hero that died that day. We also honored two of our own who died this year, John “Skillet” Ulmschneider and Chris Hill. As each participant finishes their climb or walk, each name is read aloud and a bell in rung to symbolize that their climb has been completed.
Our members participated in a variety of ways, all working to make the event a fitting tribute to firefighters, police officers, and civilians that were lost on September 11, 2001 and to our fallen PGFD brothers. CHVFD members served on the planning committee, helped staff the event, participated in the opening ceremonies, and made the 5K walk around the Potomac River at National Harbor. Each one, showing that they would “never forget” the sacrifices made that day and every day in communities around the country.
The Capitol Heights Volunteer Fire Department is a non-profit organization that provides fire and emergency services for the town of Capitol Heights and surrounding communities. We are located about 5 miles from our nation’s capital, in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Our station is staffed both by career and volunteer personnel.