Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) —  Gulf Shores Fire Rescue invites the public to participate in its annual 9/11 Memorial and Stair Climb event. This year's event holds special significance, marking the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The free event is open to all ages and fitness levels, and no gear is required. Organizers encourage community members, first responders, and visitors to come together to honor those lost that day and in the years since.

The event is scheduled for Sunday, September 13, 2026, with activities beginning at 8:00 a.m. Registration and waiver signing are required in advance via the Gulf Shores Fire Rescue RunSignup page.

The morning will begin with a beachfront memorial service at 8:00 a.m. at West Gulf Place, 245 W. Beach Blvd., Gulf Shores. The service will honor the 343 first responders and 2,996 civilians who lost their lives on September 11. Attendees will have the opportunity to reflect on their sacrifice and honor their memory.

At 9:00 a.m., participants will head to Phoenix Gulf Shores, 801 W. Beach Blvd., for the stair-climbing challenge. Climbers will symbolically retrace the 110 floors FDNY firefighters climbed inside the World Trade Center towers on the morning of September 11, 2001. The climb is intended as both a tribute and a physical act of remembrance.

The event is free to enter, but donations are welcome and benefit the Gulf Shores Fire Rescue Association, a 501(c) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible and go directly to local firefighter initiatives and community programs. While entry to the event is free, donations are welcome. Donors who give $25 or more before August 25 will receive an official event t-shirt.

Parking is available across the street from the stair-climbing venue at Ike's Beach Service, located at 800 W. Beach Blvd. Organizers ask that all participants register and sign their waivers before the event day via the RunSignup registration link.

Gulf Shores Fire Rescue describes the stair climb as "a powerful act of remembrance" and says the event aims to foster camaraderie among Gulf Coast first responders and the communities they serve. The event also honors those who have continued to serve in the War on Terror since September 11, 2001.