September 11, 2001, a day this country will never forget.

The horrors witnessed that day by the people of this country will be commemorated in many different ways on Saturday as the nation marks the 20th anniversary of 9/11. A day when 2996 brave Americans lost their lives as a result of four different terrorist attacks on American soil.

One of the ways some people here in the Sioux Empire will be commemorating 9/11 this Saturday is by participating in the annual "Step Up For Heroes" event to be held at the Sioux Falls Events Center.

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The Sioux Falls Step Up For Heroes challenge was created 7-years-ago to honor all the brave men and women who lost their lives in the World Trade Center attack on 9/11.

The event consists of a 110 story stair climb, along with a new challenge course this year to help illustrate the difficult conditions many people faced that day as they raced against time in an attempt to save lives.

Dakota News Now spoke with Sioux Falls Fire and Rescue Driver Luke Smidt who said, “It’s going to be a challenge for all sorts of people including things like running with some steps involved we’ll do some hose drags and hose carries throw some burpees in there and then a couple of other surprises.”

Helping to educate our children about that terrible day is another important mission of the Step Up For Heroes event.

Smidt told Dakota News Now, “Kids who grow up will maybe know this day just because their parents talk about it but teaching them the importance of what happened that day that there were so many that lost their lives and that we can do things to honor them.”

Sioux Falls Fire Rescue also plans to set up a junior firefighter obstacle course on Saturday specially designed for children aged 12 and under. Organizers hope by including children in the event, it will help teach them more about 9/11.

If you and your family would like to participate in this year's Step Up For Heroes event on Saturday, registration begins at 7:00 AM at the Sioux Falls Events Center.

A special ceremony and memorial starts at 9:00 AM, and the stair climb itself will begin at 10:00 AM.

Dakota News Now reports proceeds from the event will go to help those who need assistance after a fire.

Source: Dakota News Now

See 20 Ways America Has Changed Since 9/11

For those of us who lived through 9/11, the day’s events will forever be emblazoned on our consciousnesses, a terrible tragedy we can’t, and won’t, forget. Now, two decades on, Stacker reflects back on the events of 9/11 and many of the ways the world has changed since then. Using information from news reports, government sources, and research centers, this is a list of 20 aspects of American life that were forever altered by the events of that day. From language to air travel to our handling of immigration and foreign policy, read on to see just how much life in the United States was affected by 9/11.

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