A promise to ‘never forget’ 9/11

On Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, about 500 participants gathered at Nippert Stadium before sunrise, listened to opening remarks at 6:30 a.m. before a cannon fired at 6:46 a.m. to begin the run.

While the numbers are symbolic, the effort is deeply personal. For some, the run honors family members or friends. The UC 9/11 Memorial Stair Run was first organized in 2015 by UC’s Office of Veterans Programs & Services (VPS) and Army and Air Force ROTC.

For many, every step is both a physical challenge and a reminder of the resilience, sacrifice and unity that emerged from tragedy. For others, it is an introduction to the shared memory of a day they are too young to remember firsthand.

For Addison Jones, a UC aerospace engineering student and Air Force ROTC cadet, this year’s run was her first.

“I’m a little nervous, but mostly excited,” she says just prior to the run. “I know it’s going to be tough, so I’ll probably put on some upbeat music to keep me going. For me, this is about more than exercise — it’s a way to connect to something bigger than myself.”

Her classmate, Air Force ROTC cadet Ava Voss, a pre-engineering student, echoed that sentiment.

“I’ve never done anything like this,” Voss admits. “I expect it will be hard, but that’s the point. We weren’t old enough to live through 9/11, so doing this helps us remember in our own way.”

For veterans, the run carries meaning — and additional weight.

Frank Birkemeier, a UC alum (’17) and Marine Corps veteran, has participated in multiple runs since the tradition began.

“I took a break during the COVID shutdowns, but I knew I had to come back,” he says. “My cousin joined after 9/11, and I saw how his life changed. That inspired me to join in 2009.”

Tanya Williams, a retired Army veteran who deployed to Afghanistan soon after 9/11, laced up for her fifth Stair Run.

“This is a tough event, but it’s nothing compared to what so many faced that day,” says Williams. “I’ve been training on the Stairmaster to get ready. Every step feels like a way of keeping the memory alive.”

Many other ROTC cadets also take part, carrying on the link between military service and public remembrance. One senior Air Force cadet, Taylor Cardarelli, wore a 25-pound weighted rucksack.

“It’s my way of paying tribute to the firefighters and soldiers who carried heavy loads that day,” she says.

The Stair Run also draws families with immense sense of pride in military service.   

Patrick Kilgore carried his late son’s rucksack through the stadium, the same stadium where his son, Michael Kilgore, participated in the 9/11 Memorial Stair Run in 2019, the year of his passing.

“Every step reminds me of him,” Kilgore said quietly. “It’s not easy. But remembering isn’t supposed to be easy.”

Pat Kilgore carries his late son's rucksack up the stadium steps. Photo/Joe Fuqua

Michael Kilgore was only two years old when 9/11 happened, but his father says he grew up with the news of its impact which led Michael to join the UC’s Army ROTC program, aka the Bearcat Battalion. In addition, Michael was a member of the Ohio Army National Guard and the Ohio Army National Guard Honor Guard. Tragically, Michael Kilgore lost his life to suicide on Nov. 17, 2019. The Bearcat Battalion established an annual “Ruck & Run” to increase mental health awareness in Kilgore’s honor.  

For Stephanie Bartlett, this year marks her first time joining the run. Both of her children – Ethan and Olivia — are college students. Olivia is an Air Force ROTC cadet majoring in communications at UC and Ethan attends Ohio Northern University.   

“I wanted to be here to support them,” their mother says. “I’ve trained some, but honestly, I’m just proud to be alongside them. I hope this event helps more people see the value of our military programs.”

Ethan admits he has a personal goal. “I want to beat my sister’s time,” he says with a laugh.  “But really, it’s about being here together as a family. That’s what matters most.”

Though the run is demanding, few participants talk about it in terms of speed or competition. Instead, they speak of meaning.

“Climbing stairs for almost an hour isn’t easy,” Williams, the Army veteran, says. “But it’s nothing compared to what first responders and everyday people faced on 9/11.”

Those who serve and those soon to servce took to Nippert Stadium on Sept. 11, 2025. Photo/Clare Taphorn.

For Jones and Voss, the Air Force ROTC cadets, the event is also a reminder of the path ahead.

“We’re training to serve,” Jones says. “This is one way to honor those who came before us.”

As the sun rises and inspirational music echoes through the stands, lines of participants weave through the stadium, with each step serving as a physical reminder of the lives lost, the sacrifices made and the resilience of participants who carry the weight of that day into the present.

And when it’s finished...

“It hurts, it’s exhausting, and it’s humbling,” says Birkemeier, the Marine veteran. “But that’s exactly why we do it.”

“This isn’t just about exercise,” business owner Kittle says. “It’s about keeping the promise: never forget.”

Whether climbing for the first time or the ninth — or doing so to express pride or grief — UC’s Memorial Stair Run participants are united by that promise.

Multiple media outlets were on hand to cover the the UC 9/11 Memorial Run: 

Fox 19 Now: 9/11 stair run at UC

WLWT: University of Cincinnati honors lives lost on 9/11 with memorial stair run at Nippert Stadium

Local 12: 'You have to honor those people': Hundreds run 2,071 steps at UC in 9/11 remembrance