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'I remember seeing the smoke' North Carolina man shares memory of 9/11 being the only surviving firefighter in his crew

Participants climbed or walked the equivalent of the 110 stories at the World Trade Center.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Many of us can remember that day all too well.

September 11, 2001 was a day that changed America's history forever where hijackers crashed two planes into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City.

In Greensboro, the city held a 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb to honor all of the first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice. 

RELATED: Triad residents reflect on 9/11

"It's a way to keep their memories alive. And you'll see everyone had on a, a bib that had a picture of someone who had lost their life on 9/11. And it's just so heartwarming to see so many people come out to respect the first responders to uh you know, have a memory of them and to know each one by the, the bib and the picture and to, you know, honor them," said Marikay Abuzuaiter, Greensboro City Councilwoman.

Both the Greensboro Fire Department and Greensboro Police Department were there.

"It was a moment in history that we are now seeing police officers come in, first responders come in that weren't even alive during 9/11. And it's important for them to understand what happened, why it happened. And, to kind of let them know that what we do is, is a sacrifice for the community and, it's really, it's important work,: said Chief John Thompson, Greensboro Police Chief. 

"I wasn't alive during 9/11. I was born in 2004. So, knowing those 343 firemen risked their lives is important. Uh, on They risked their lives and so many other people risked their lives. It means a lot to other people around the city and in the county and across the country," said Carter Herndon, a Greensboro Firefighter at Station 7.

WFMY News 2 crew also met with Jimmy Ayuso, a local man who is originally from New York. Ayuso was a first responder on that very day the twin towers were hit. Ayuso described the scene that day as "chaotic" and "confusion". He said he was a medic responding to a car wreck and those injured.  

"I heard the call on my radio at the time. My crew and I were fortunate to be there but many of them did not make it back...a vivid thing I remember that day is the burning engine smell. It stayed with me up until today," Ayuso said. 

RELATED: Fallen CMPD officer honored in Uptown Charlotte ceremony Friday

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