At 5:40 a.m., the steady sound of footsteps cut across the quiet of Cornell’s campus, a persistent rhythm that echoed through Schoellkopf Stadium in the hours just before sunrise. Under the glow of stadium lights, feet climbed concrete steps as sweat glistened on the faces of more than 200 cadets, veterans, staff and community members who had gathered on September 11 for a 9/11 memorial workout.  

Held annually, the workout is organized by Cornell Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and honors the first responders who lost their lives during the attacks on the World Trade Center. In remembrance, participants moved through a 40-minute circuit of both stair climbs and strength exercises. 

Among those taking part was Katherine McComas, vice provost for engagement and land-grant affairs and a professor in the Department of Communication. McComas oversees and supports Cornell’s ROTC programs and joined the workout for her second year.  

Credit: photo by Simon Wheeler

“It gives you a burn in your legs,” McComas said. “And that burn is a privilege. It’s a privilege to feel the pain and not be in the same situation as those on September 11 but rather be alongside people who are coming together to remember and recognize that ultimate sacrifice.” 

McComas’s connection to the military is personal. Her father served in Army ROTC at the University of Colorado, an experience that shaped his life and instilled in McComas a lasting connection to military and public service.

Over the past year, she has made a point of stepping outside her usual role to experience the environments, traditions and challenges that shape the students she supports. McComas visited military installations including Fort Knox, the Philadelphia Naval Yard and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst to deepen her understanding of the military community and better support Cornell's ROTC programs.

“I think it’s important to show that you’re willing to engage in the experiences that we’re asking our students to do,” McComas said. “For me, the workout is another opportunity to say, ‘I see you, I recognize you and we’re here today to do this together — as a community.’” 

For many of the students participating in the workout, September 11, 2001, is history rather than a lived memory. For others, the events of that day are intertwined with their own military service or the experiences of those who served alongside them. 

For Tony Roach, director of administration at the Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering and U.S. Navy veteran, the workout is one way those generations can come together. 

“Sharing knowledge and experiences with the ROTC midshipmen and cadets before they go off into their service and lead is so important when it comes to passing the torch,” said Roach, who retired from active duty in 2022 but has remained active in Cornell’s military community as a member of the Veterans Colleague Network Group, an advisor to the Graduate Student Military Community and the Cornell Veterans House Community Fellow. “Most veterans really miss the camaraderie that comes with their military service. So, having the opportunity to recreate some of that connection is what I really value and what brings me joy."

Roach has been involved with the memorial workout for all seven years he has been at the university, first helping organize the event as the commanding officer of the Navy ROTC unit and now participating as a veteran and member of the Cornell community. Over those years, he has seen firsthand how deeply military service is woven into the fabric of the university.

“The veteran community here at Cornell is fantastic,” Roach said. “If you look back at the history of Cornell and when it was founded, there’s a connection to the military and veterans that I really had no understanding of when I first arrived. It’s really fantastic how deep and rich the history of this community is here at Cornell. It’s something I really value.”

By the time the workout concluded at 7:15 a.m., the steady rhythm of footsteps began to fade as participants moved into a cooldown, catching their breath and reflecting on the morning. 

To close the memorial, Nathan Li ’27, Cornell ROTC Tri-Service Brigade commander, presented McComas with a folded American flag that had been flown over Barton Hall in recognition of her continued support of Cornell’s military community. The ceremony ended with the group joining together in one final shout: “Never forget,” echoing through the stadium.