Owen remembers 9/11 with Stampede on the Stairs

School holds tribute to first responders on the eve of the 20th anniversary of terrorist attack

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
September 10, 2021

In the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., the nation made a collective vow to “never forget” the events of that terrible day.

On the eve of the 20th anniversary of that fateful morning, which claimed the lives of 2,977 people, Owen High School remembered the sacrifices of the first responders who responded to the World Trade Center.

The inaugural Stampede on the Stairs, held Sept. 10 in Warhorse Stadium, provided staff, students, coaches and local first responders with an opportunity to honor the bravery of the 412 emergency workers who perished in the collapse of the twin towers.

The event, which began at 6:30 a.m., featured six teams of four participants racing to complete 45 trips up the stairs, totaling 2.071 steps, on the home bleachers at the stadium. The total number of steps climbed was equivalent to the 110 floors climbed by first responders on the day of the tragedy.

The inspiration for Stampede on the Stairs came from Matt Owenby, an Owen graduate who now serves as the school resource officer for his alma mater. The Buncombe County Sheriff’s deputy planned to dedicate his morning workout to honoring the victims of the attack.

“I was little when the Sept. 11 attacks occurred, but it was important for me to recognize the people who lost their lives that day 20 years ago,” Owenby said. “I invited the JROTC students to participate, and it grew into something much larger.”

Five of the six teams that participated in the stair-climbing event were made up Owen staff. A team of student-athletes, which featured Gavin Bertrand in full firefighting gear, joined the Stampede. Athletes from multiple Owen programs and local first responders, including Chief Anthony Penland of the Swannanoa Fire Department and Chief Scottie Harris of the Black Mountain Fire Department, provided support for the teams.

“This school is one big family, and when Deputy Owenby mentioned his plans to do something to mark this occasion, we brought it to (principal) Meg Turner,” said Owen Athletic Director Brook King. “She was behind it 100%, and this event is really a testament to how special the Swannanoa Valley is. It didn’t take much effort for everyone to get behind this.”

A team representing Owen’s student services completed the challenge first. The sole student team finished second.

Following the Stampede, first responders in attendance joined school faculty and students in front of the building, where they lowered the flags to half-mast before reciting the pledge of allegiance. While the purpose of the event was to honor those who lost their lives in the attacks, it also serves to remind the students who were born after 2001 of the significance of the date.

“So many people went to work that morning with a plan to simply go about their daily routine,” King said. “All of that changed, and the impact on the lives of all Americans is something we still see today. Honoring the sacrifices that were made on that day is important, and it helps the students understand why we will never forget.”