STEPPING UP

STEPPING UP — Firefighter Justin McMasters of the Rives Volunteer Fire Department climbed the staircase at Discovery Park of America early Saturday as he participated in the Union City Fire Department’s sixth annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb, which raised funds for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. The climb pays tribute to those who lost their lives in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, among them 343 New York City firefighters. Each participant in the local event, while wearing their gear, set out to climb the concrete stairway of DPA’s tower 10 times, the equivalent of the 110 stories of NYC’s World Trade Center. This year’s climbers included primarily firefighters and emergency medical services personnel, as well as one law enforcement officer and one National Guard soldier. The inspiring artwork hung along the stairwells was drawn by local school students.