Fireman Climbs 110 Floors At Tuckerton Gym To Honor 9/11

TUCKERTON, NJ — Matt Gilmore was only 7, but he clearly remembers the September 11 terrorist attacks. Eighteen years later, he goes extra lengths to make sure nobody forgets.

Gilmore volunteers for the Parkertown Volunteer Fire Company in Little Egg Harbor. On the anniversary of 9/11, he put on his firefighting gear and got onto the stair stepper at Retro Fitness in Tuckerton. He climbed 110 floors — the distance to the top of the World Trade Center.

The 25-year-old is already unique. Gilmore is one of several deaf volunteer firefighters in the United States. He is a motivational speaker, and the National Association of the Deaf recognized him in 2017. He began performing the stair-stepper tribute annually in 2016.

"I want people to remember, to look at me and remember," Gilmore said through an interpreter.

Firefighters throughout the nation participate in the stair-stepper tradition, which honors the 343 firefighters who died for their efforts that day.

Gilmore participates in these events when he can. But he didn't see such an event scheduled for today in his area. So he went to the gym and did it on his own.

Last year, Gilmore completed 103 floors in 52 minutes. This year, 110 flights took him 90 minutes this year — he says he's a little out of shape.

Gilmore gets chills thinking back to Sept. 11, 2001. He was in school in Florida. It was a beautiful morning. Then two teachers ran into his classroom and turning on the bulky TV that hung on the wall.

He saw the fire and the towers collapsing. He saw the second plane hit. Parents, feeling paranoid, picked up their kids from school. Gilmore's mother tried to explain what happened, but he could hardly understand it at that age.

It wasn't until later that Gilmore understood the impact of that day and first-responders' efforts. Now he makes sure everyone understands.

"I’m not doing it for me," Gilmore said. "I’m doing it for them."

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