Bassett FFA members set up for the stair climb.
Most FFA members know the organization’s motto by heart: “Learning to do, doing to learn, earning to live and living to serve.” For Bassett FFA members, though, that final line — “Living to Serve” — isn’t just something they say. It’s something they live out with purpose.
This September, six Bassett FFA members traveled to Roanoke, Va., to support the 2025 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb event alongside Roanoke City Fire-EMS. The event honors the 343 firefighters who died on Sept. 11, 2001. Participants climb 110 stories, the height of the Twin Towers, in their memory.
But this year, Bassett FFA took its service a step further. In addition to supporting the firefighters, they chose to honor a group of often-forgotten heroes: the K9 search and rescue dogs who served at Ground Zero in the weeks and months following the attacks.
These specially trained dogs worked tirelessly alongside emergency crews, navigating the rubble to locate survivors and bring closure to grieving families. Many sustained injuries or were later diagnosed with long-term health issues, including cancer, due to prolonged exposure to the toxic air and debris. Their bravery and sacrifice are a vital part of the 9/11 legacy, and Bassett FFA made it its mission to ensure they would not be forgotten.
During the event, the chapter handed out 300 custom-made lanyards to participating firefighters. Each lanyard carried the name and biography of one of 28 heroic K9s who served in the aftermath of the attacks. As firefighters climbed, they wore those stories around their necks, symbolically carrying the memory of these four-legged heroes with them to the top.
Bassett FFA members pass out lanyards to participants of the stair climb.
Dedicated to the Community and Character
Bassett FFA members didn’t stop there. They arrived early to help set up the event, assisted in organizing participant check-in and provided support throughout the climb by passing out water and snacks at designated rest points. Once the event ended, they also helped clean up the area, staying until the last box was packed away.
“I loved being able to connect with the people around me and share the story of the dogs who passed by helping in the process,” says a participating chapter member.
Service is a cornerstone of FFA. Whether it’s helping at local events, supporting first responders or leading community outreach efforts, FFA members are constantly finding ways to give back. Not every chapter has the chance to build such powerful connections beyond their hometown, but Bassett FFA shows that servant leadership has no boundaries.
By honoring both the fallen firefighters and their K9 partners, Bassett FFA exemplified the true meaning of service and remembrance. This chapter’s mission wasn’t just about participating in an event — it was about carrying a legacy forward.
For those who serve, both human and animal, we remember. FFA remembers.
