Area police and firefighters climbed Monks Mound at Cahokia Mounds Wednesday to commemorate the 12th anniversary of Sept. 11 and honor their colleagues who died during the attacks.

The first responders were joined by about 130 volunteers, including Elaine Marino, who had a very personal reason for climbing the stairs. “I had a couple of family members that were in the towers when they went down,” Marino said.

The temperature was 95 when the second annual event started. Collinsville Fire Chief Mark Emert said the seven or eight fireman walking the steps in full gear thought it was the least they could do to remember the 9/11 victims.

The firefighters that went into the twin towers were wearing gear that weighed the same as the Collinsville firefighters, as well as carrying tanks, tools, ropes and other equipment, Emert said.

“They were all able to climb those stairs to help people out,” Emert said. “The little bit of pain we’re enduring now is nothing.”

On-duty firemen were on hand to provide first-aid, if necessary for participants who chose from three circuits. Those making five laps of the 154 Monks Mound steps were considered to have climbed 62 floors of the North Tower. Six laps was the equivalent of 78 floors of the South Tower and nine laps equated to 110 floors of the World Trade Center towers.