When a Kansas fire captain registered for his first 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb in 2017, he expected to climb in honor of a fallen firefighter. He didn't expect the name on his memorial badge to change his life.
In most 9/11 Memorial Stair Climbs, each participant is assigned the name and photo of one of the 343 FDNY firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice on September 11, 2001. Throughout the climb, participants carry the memorial badge as a reminder of who they are climbing for.
Captain Will Holt of the Olathe Fire Department was assigned the name of FDNY firefighter Paul Tegtmeier.
Along with the memorial badge came a brief biography outlining Paul's department, company assignment and where he was serving on September 11, 2001. For Will, this information wasn't enough.
He wanted to know who Paul was beyond the badge. "Every one of the 343 firefighters who gave their lives on 9/11 had a family, a career, dreams and a story which goes far beyond the firehouse they served in," Will said. "I wanted to know who Paul really was—not just the firefighter he was, but the husband, the father and the person he was before he sacrificed his life."
Searching for Paul’s Story
Will wanted to learn as much as he could about Paul before the stair climb. His search led him to the Facebook page for FDNY Engine 4, where Paul had been stationed.
"As a firefighter, you understand the gravity of 9/11," Will said. "I wanted to be as respectful as possible but still learn who Paul was so I could honor him the best way I knew how, which meant gathering as much information as I could before the climb."
The crew at Engine 4 responded almost immediately, asking Will for his phone number.
A few days later, his phone rang. It was Paul's son, Aric.
"I couldn't believe it," Will said. "We ended up talking about Paul for hours.”
The Man Behind the Badge
Through their first conversation, Will learned Paul had spent years working for a telephone company while volunteering as a firefighter. Although he had built a stable career, firefighting was always his true calling.
After nearly two decades of waiting, Paul finally received the call to join the FDNY. Without hesitation, he left the security of his longtime career and became a full-time firefighter. Just a few years later, at 41 years old, Paul sacrificed his life on September 11, 2001. Will also learned Paul had been detailed from Engine 4 in Lower Manhattan to Engine 26 in the Garment District that morning, filling in because the company was short-staffed. It was a routine assignment firefighters make every day. "It's the small details like these we don't even think about," Will said. "These details helped me understand the day Paul lived before he made the ultimate sacrifice."
As the conversation continued, Aric shared memories of the father he lost when he was just six years old. He remembered Paul's contagious smile, watching him put on his bunker gear and how excited he was to finally be living his dream as an FDNY firefighter. He also spoke about growing up alongside his younger sister without their father and how Paul's fellow FDNY firefighters made sure they never felt alone.
"Aric once told me he lost a father on 9/11, but in a way gained a number of new fathers," Will said. "Every firefighter who served with Paul stayed involved in his life—checking in on him, celebrating milestones, sharing stories about his dad and making sure he always knew he was part of the FDNY family."
This support left a lasting impression on Aric and inspired him to become a volunteer firefighter with hopes of one day joining the FDNY himself.
Honoring Paul in New Ways
Will and Aric developed a tradition of talking each year around 9/11. Their conversations often centered on Paul and the kind of firefighter he was. Through those conversations, Will continued to learn small details about Paul, including how he was "on the irons" on September 11. This meant he was responsible for carrying heavy forcible-entry tools—such as an axe and Halligan bar—while climbing the stairs of the World Trade Center to break through doors and other barriers so his crew could advance.
"Along with wearing my full gear, I made sure to carry those tools during the next memorial stair climb," Will said. "I was always trying to learn how I could honor Paul in the most meaningful way possible. Carrying those tools helped me better understand, even in a small way, what he went through on 9/11."
A Friendship Beyond the Stair Climb
After talking regularly on the phone, Will and Aric had the opportunity to meet in person in 2018, when Will was teaching at a firefighter training event in Maryland. Aric, who was volunteering with a nearby fire department, made the drive to finally meet him.
They spent the evening talking over a few drinks, and it didn't take long for their friendship to grow beyond their shared connection to Paul. Before long, they were teaching together at firefighter training conferences, and Will began spending every September 11 in New York City alongside Aric.
Together, they attended memorial ceremonies at Engine 26 and Ground Zero before traveling to upstate New York to honor Paul at the annual memorial service held in his hometown.
During one visit, Aric introduced Will to the firefighters of Engine 26, where they were able to talk with them about their 9/11 stories.
"It was an incredible experience, but also a humbling one," Will said.
Those visits also reminded Will the impact of September 11 is still deeply felt throughout New York City.
"People say, 'Never Forget,' all the time," Will said. "But we're still losing firefighters to 9/11-related cancer. Those are the firefighters we can't forget, too. Remembering them is just as important."
Returning to New York
This September, Will plans to return to New York City to commemorate 25 years since the September 11 attack.
This time, he'll be joined by 15 members of the Olathe Fire Department.
Together, they'll attend memorial ceremonies alongside Aric, giving Will's crew the opportunity to experience the significance of the day in the city where history unfolded.
"You know the emotional weight and impact 9/11 had on the fire service, but it's a completely different feeling when you're standing in New York City where the event actually took place," Will said.
Will also hopes they experience the same sense of brotherhood which keeps him returning.
"I'm always blown away by the hospitality every time I visit New York City," Will said. "You walk into a firehouse, and they immediately ask if you want a cup of coffee and treat you like you've known them for years. People always talk about Midwest hospitality, but the hospitality inside FDNY firehouses is something special."
More Than a Name
Looking back, Will never imagined one 9/11 memorial badge would lead to a lifelong friendship, annual trips to New York City and a deeper appreciation for the lives behind the 343 names we honor.
Getting to know Aric and learning about Paul reinforced what he believed from the very beginning: every firefighter who died on September 11, 2001 left behind a story, a family and a legacy which deserves to be remembered.
"Every one of these fallen firefighters is so much more than a name on a badge," Will said. "Each one had a story, a family and a life which was just as rich and meaningful as Paul's. It's so important we don't let those stories get lost or forgotten."
After years of serving as a volunteer firefighter, Aric joined the FDNY in 2019, following in his father's footsteps. For Will, this is perhaps the greatest reminder Paul's legacy lives on.
"Becoming an FDNY firefighter isn't easy. Aric worked incredibly hard to get where he is," Will said. "I know Paul would be proud of his son—not just for becoming an FDNY firefighter, but for the man he is today."
Honor the Legacy. Join a Stair Climb.
Interested in honoring one of the fallen FDNY firefighters? Find a 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb near you and help keep their stories alive.