Puebloans honor those who died on 9/11

It’s a day that lives in the memories of the people of Pueblo; nearly 3,000 people died on Sept. 11, 2001.

Soldiers, emergency crews and people from all walks of life stood at the Arkansas Riverwalk to honor the people who died on 9/11.

“We just try to keep the tradition going so we don’t forget,” Pueblo Police Chief Luis Velez said.

He said he grew up 15 blocks away from the World Trade Center towers in New York.

Guns were fired, wreaths were laid and steel from the World Trade Center was brought out to remind people of the events that happened on that tragic day.

More than 300 firefighters died on 9/11. Pueblo Fire Chief Dale Villers said even after 13 years, the amount of firefighters who died still hits close to home.

“When a large number of firefighters are affected, we all feel it,” he said.

The pieces of steel from the World Trade Center towers are on display at the Center for American Values in Pueblo.

Fire science students at Pueblo Community College held a memorial stair climb in honor of the firefighters who died on 9/11.

The students said they had to climb the stairs at their amphitheater with 75-pound vests 110 times because that’s how many stories the World Trade Center towers had.