photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas Football holds its first practice in the new David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium Friday, Aug. 1, 2025 in Lawrence.

Dozens of KU ROTC students and local first responders and veterans will hit the stadium steps Thursday to honor the sacrifice of first responders 24 years ago when terrorists attacked the United States.

University of Kansas Reserve Officer Training Corps programs will hold the 9/11 Memorial Run and gathering at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.

Nearly 100 KU ROTC students representing the Navy, Marine, Army and Air Force battalions, along with local first responders and veterans, will take part in the 5:30 a.m. run. Participants will complete 2,071 stadium steps, symbolizing the climb of first responders in the World Trade Center on 9/11.

This year’s event is limited to ROTC students, first responders and veterans who were invited to attend, but public participation is being explored for future years, according to event organizers.

This is the first year that the annual event has been held in the KU football stadium.