In a solemn tribute marking the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, 156 and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadets from the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭ā苍辞补 scaled the steep, railway track of Koko Head Crater in the early morning hours.
The strenuous climb honored the nearly 3,000 lives lost, as well as the heroic first responders and military personnel who answered the call in the tragedy’s aftermath.
For Army ROTC Professor of Military Science Lt. Col. Patrick Kelley, the remembrance is personal.
“I was in ROTC when 9/11 happened. That day changed my life in that it led to a career of multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan during my career,” he said. “9/11 is always a reminder of the sacrifices a lot of Americans made, not only that day, but in the years that followed in combat, as well as the families that stayed behind to support them. I love that I am in a position to pass that knowledge and passion down to the next generation.”
Annual tradition of remembrance
According to program officials, the trek gives cadets an opportunity to reflect on the service and sacrifice of those affected by 9/11 while strengthening bonds with their fellow cadets.
The annual climb also helps a new generation of cadets understand the significance of the attacks and their aftermath. Many of today’s cadets were born after September 11, 2001.
The cadets carried that remembrance with them throughout the climb, marking the 25th anniversary with a shared commitment: “We climb to remember. We climb to honor. We will never forget.”