This past weekend I had the chance to participate in the 9/11 memorial stair climb at Lambeau Field. Alex Hamilton, Blake Boes, and Jaimie Braun made the climb as well. During the event, participants climb the equivalent of 110 flights of stairs, which was the height of the World Trade Centers. Climbers are sent out in waves of 343, which is the number of firefighters who lost their lives that day. The event is meant to honor their sacrifice and remind us of so many Americans' willingness to answer the call.

Not one student in our school was alive for that day. It falls on all of us to explain what that day meant and what happened. It was a moment that brought us together. No squabbling about politics. No arguing about sports. No rivalries. Just Americans.

Many people answered the call that day. Yes, there were firefighters, paramedics, police, and soldiers. But there were also many others. The man with the red bandana is one of my favorite stories from that day, and you should look him up if you're not familiar with him. He was just a regular guy who did extraordinary things. We had hundreds of metal workers show up to help go through wreckage. We had the largest naval evacuation in history. It wasn't Dunkirk. It was getting people off Manhattan Island. These were just normal people with ferry boats and pleasure craft helping their fellow man. We had people open their homes all over the country for people who were stranded without flights home. We had whole generations of young Americans sign up for service: Fire, Ems, Police, Military, etc. (Myself included) All of this, because of the heroes we witnessed that day.

All of these are examples of people answering the call.

There are many ways of answering the call. We discussed at school today the many ways we ALL can answer the call. Yes we can serve as first responders and military. But there are many other things this world needs. We can be the listener for someone who is struggling. We can look out for and visit with an elderly neighbor. We can see a need in our community and work to fill that need.

The man in front of me for a portion of the climb had a shirt with a cool quote on it. He wore it in honor of a loved one he had lost. It said, "A life lived for others is a life worthwhile." Albert Einstein.

Our challenge for this week is to answer the call, whatever that means to you. It doesn't have to be big, but do something to make the world a little brighter. A little happier. A little less scary. Do it for a complete stranger. Do it for a close friend. But find some way this week to answer the call.

Challenge for the week:

Answer the call.

Every day is a great day to be a Gorilla!
Have a wonderful week.