The Salt River Indian Community Fire Department will host the fifth annual Memorial Stair Climb at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Sept. 11, to honor and remember the fallen firefighters on the 20th anniversary of 9/11.

The 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb is not a timed race event, but honors the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) firefighters, police and EMS who gave their lives on Sept. 11, 2001, according to a press release.

Each participant pays tribute to an FDNY firefighter, police officer, or EMS by climbing the equivalent of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center; and will receive a tag with the name and picture of one of the fallen to carry throughout the climb, symbolically completing their journey to the top of the World Trade Center Towers.

Through firefighter and community participation, the hope is to ensure that each of the 343 firefighters, 60 police officers, and 10 EMS personnel are honored, and their sacrifice never forgotten, the release said, detailing the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, which is an official climb of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to  offer programs for fire service survivors and assist surviving families and co-workers of the fallen.

The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC) is represented by two Native American tribes; the Akimel O’odham (River People), commonly known as the Pima and the Xalychidom Piipaash (People Who Live Toward the Water) commonly known as the Maricopa; both share the same cultural values, but maintain their own unique traditions. More than 10,000 individuals are enrolled Salt River tribal members, the release said.

The SRPMIC is bordered by Tempe, Fountain Hills and Mesa and shares a Scottsdale address. The community owns and operates several successful enterprises including Salt River Materials Group and Saddleback Communication and hospitality enterprises: Talking Stick Resort, Talking Stick Golf Club and Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, all within the Talking Stick Entertainment District, on the northern part of the community, the release said.

The culture and history of the people is an important story that has been interwoven at many of the destination amenities through interior art, building design and landscape, described the release.

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation honors America’s fallen fire heroes by sharing how they lived and what they meant to loved ones, communities and the nation. The NFFF is a registered 501(c) 3 non-profit, according to the release.

Learn more: discoversaltriver.com/9-11-stair-climb.