DES MOINES, Iowa — This upcoming Thursday marks 24 years since the September 11th terrorist attacks that took the lives of nearly 3,000 Americans.

It is the 9th year of the March to the Capitol walk, with local first responders and members of the public walking 21 miles to the Iowa State Capitol building. The walk starts at 9:11 a.m. on Thursday and goes until those participating reach those steps.

Michael Dunkin is a West Des Moines firefighter, who helps organize the walk. He wears his firefighting gear to honor those first responders who laid it on the line in the moments during and after the attack.

Todd Stuart is a retired firefighter, who has participated in the walk for five years. He joined the Today in Iowa Sunday crew to discuss the growing crowd the event has been getting, sharing that his joy that the younger generations want to play a role in the memorial walk.

“I think it’s critically important. We should never lose sight of the sacrifice that those first responders made. And also, I believe it helps them to keep in mind the sacrifices that law enforcement and fire make every single day in this county,” said Stuart. Stuart is a third generation first responder in his family.

To learn more about the walk or to register, visit March to the Capitol’s website. You can watch the full interview on Today in Iowa in the video above.