CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Holly Demaria was among the determined University of Miami students who met before sunrise on Saturday to walk 9.11 miles, while carrying 35-pound bags.
Demaria participated in the Ruck To Remember, an annual tradition by members of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps to honor the first responders of the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
“A lot of people from our generation don’t realize how impactful it was,” Demaria said.
The attacks killed 2,977, including 441 emergency responders in New York City, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Exposure to the toxic dust from Ground Zero also caused suffering.
“Coming out here every year, and sort of taking time to carry the weight, makes us really think about it,” Sophia Martin said.
Members and supporters of the Veterans Student Group, Miami Ruck Club, G5 Athletics, and the Wounded Warrior Project also participated.
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