LEANDER, Texas – The Austin First Responders Hockey Club hosted the fifth annual 9/11 memorial ice hockey game on Wednesday at the Crossover Gold Rink in Leander. 

People remember where they were on September 11, 2001, especially the men and women who were on the frontlines in New York City that day. 

James J. Stefanich was an NYPD Detective for 14 years and an officer for six years. 

“Total chaos. No one expected anything like that,” said James J. Stefanich. “We thought it was possibly World War III.”

While most Americans watched the attacks unfold on live television, James J. Stefanich was in the thick of it. He worked as an NYPD detective the morning the planes crashed into the World Trade Center. 

“Thought maybe we’d get held over for a little over time until we saw the video of the second plane going, and my boss immediately goes, ‘go and put all your gear on. This is real,’ and it was crazy after that,” said Stefanich. “Unfortunately, nobody knew what to do. It was an unprecedented time.”

Stefanich inspired the annual fundraising game hosted by the Austin First Responders Hockey Club. 

Luis Velazquez is one of James’ teammates and an officer as well. 

“We thought a good way to honor him and the sacrifice of a lot of people during 9/11 was to hold a benefit game,” said Luis Velazquez.

The team donates the proceeds from their 9/11 memorial hockey game to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation. 

“I’m overwhelmed every year by the support, it’s beautiful,” said Stefanich. “It’s tough not being with other cops and firemen from New York during this time. So, my first year here, I was by myself, so this is a great thing for me, especially getting all this support.” 

The profits from the 2024 event benefited a Round Rock firefighter whose teenage daughter recently passed away in an ATV accident. 

“It’s a great outlet. First responders deal with a lot of stress, and getting out here every Sunday to kind of blow off some steam, I think, is a really good way to fight depression, suicides,” said Velazquez. 

First responders come together to show their support and give back to others in their field. 

“As long as we have a good time, I’m happy,” said Stefanich. I don’t care if I win or lose. I want to win, but I’m just happy to be here with my brothers and sisters. You know, it makes life a lot easier for me.”

They hope to bring positivity to a dark day in American history by honoring the lives lost on 9/11 and make a difference. 

“If we can put a positive spin on the way we celebrate this day, I think it’d be beneficial for everybody,” said Velazquez. 

AUSTIN, Texas – The ceremonies held on Wednesday were not just about remembering who was lost, but to honor three other things: dedication, courage and sacrifice.

A steady line of Austin firefighters worked their way up and down the Pleasant Valley Training Tower. Each step added up to 1,368 feet, which is the height of the World Trade Center. 

The annual climb in Austin was organized the day after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. 

AFD Lt. Jerry Cohen said it is considered the longest running memorial of its kind in the nation.

“We have firefighters that are participating in this that weren’t even born on 9/11. We have a lot of them that were schoolchildren during 9/11. And then we have some guys like myself that were there as a firefighter during 9/11. So, now I think that’s the biggest thing is to see we have a generational change, but in a good way that they’re participating. And hopefully once I’m gone, they’ll continue, and this memorial to never forget 9/11,” said Lt. Cohen.

In downtown Austin, a memorial ceremony was held at the old Buford Fire Drill Tower. Among those attending was former New York firefighter Louis Strandberg. He was in Ground Zero when the second tower collapsed and now lives in Austin.

“It’s important that we never forget. We always remember, you know, I don’t want to say it’s nice, but it softens my heart that I have an event like this to come to,” said Standberg.

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It was noted that 10 firefighters from Austin went to New York 23 years ago.

“And keep in mind, those firefighters who served and went after the building collapsed, some of them are suffering from some serious medical conditions. So, we need to make sure they get the treatment they need,” said AFD Chief Joel Baker.

Austin Battalion Chief Travis Lee Maher was among those sent to New York. That mission was brought up by Governor Greg Abbott during a ceremony in North Austin.

“Chief Maher fought through the rubble to save and recover victims caught in the collapse of the World Trade Center. During that mission, he was exposed to a toxic mix of chemicals, debris and dust,” said Governor Abbott.

Maher passed away, and his family was presented with the Star of Texas Award. Maher’s heroism, according to Abbott, is what makes Texas and the USA exceptional.

“And we will also never forget the men and women who ran toward danger on that horrific day of 9/11. We marvel at the valor of the emergency first responders that day. We’re also grateful for the first responders who bravely serve Texans each and every day,” said Gov. Abbott.

The Star of Texas Award was given out to a total of 23 Texas first responders who have died or been injured in the past year. Other Austin recipients include:

• AISD PD Officer Val Barnes; who was shot by a gunman on the campus of Northeast Early College High School.
• APD Officer Anthony Dupree Martin; who was struck and killed by a vehicle while on his motorcycle near Liberty Hill.
• APD Officer Ysidro Ramon Mendoza; who survived after being hit by a vehicle.
• APD Officer Joseph Strother; who was shot by the same gunman that shot officer Barnes.

The names of all the 2024 recipients of the Star of Texas Awards are:

• Firefighter Brady Weaver, Arlington Fire Department.
• Officer Matthew J. Thorpe, Arlington Police Department.
• Battalion Chief Travis Lee Maher, Austin Fire Department.
• Sergeant Val Barnes, Austin Independent School District.
• Senior Officer Anthony Dupree Martin, Austin Police Department.
• Officer Ysidro Ramon Mendoza, Austin Police Department.
• Detective Joseph Strother, Austin Police Department.
• Officer Steven Robert Nothem II, Carrollton Police Department.
• Officer Kyle Mathew Hicks, Corpus Christi Police Department.
• Senior Officer Vicente Mathew Ortiz Jr., Corpus Christi Police Department.
• Detective Edgar F. Morales, Dallas Police Department.
• Officer Tyler Morris, Dallas Police Department.
• Deputy David Walter Bosecker, Eastland County Sheriff’s Office.
• Deputy Joseph J. Villarreal, Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office.
• Officer David R. Lipsey Jr., Graham Police Department.
• Deputy Armando Esqueda, Harris County Sherriff’s Office.
• Senior Deputy Hugo Rodriguez, Hidalgo County Sherriff’s Office.
• Sergeant Mauricio Valle, Houston Police Department.
• Lieutenant Milton Gabriel Resendez, San Benito Police Department.
• Firefighter Danny Keith Ireton, Stanton Volunteer Fire Department.
• Deputy Brent Brown, Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office.
• Trooper Lyndon Johnson, Texas Department of Public Safety.
• Officer Troy Costello, Woodville Police Department.

The Star of Texas Award has been held since 2003. More than 700 awards have been issued.

The ceremony closed with “Peace” as the final word offered in the Benediction. It was a reference to what first responders try to bring in times of chaos.

UIL football district play gets underway this week.

Texas A&M Consolidated vs. Weiss and Stony Point vs. Vandegrift should draw plenty of attention, but there’s several good games on tap. Check out our reporters Rick Cantu, Colby Gordon and Caleb Yum for this week’s coverage.

Here is the Central Texas high school football schedule for Week 3:

Thursday’s Austin-area football games

District 25-6A

Vandegrift (1-1) at Stony Point (1-1), 7

District 12-5A DI

A&M Consolidated (2-0) at Weiss (2-0), 7

Non-district

Glenn (2-0) at Bowie (2-0), 7:30

Austin High (2-0) at Johnson (2-0), 7

New Braunfels Long Creek (1-1) at Crockett (0-2), 7:30

LASA (1-1) at Northeast (0-2), 7:30

Belton (0-2) at East View (1-1), 7

Friday’s Austin-area football games

District 25-6A

Vista Ridge (1-1) at Round Rock (2-0), 7

McNeil (0-2) at Westwood (0-2), 7

Cedar Ridge (0-2) at Hutto (1-1), 7:30

District 12-5A DI

Hendrickson (1-1) at Hays (1-1), 7:30

Anderson (2-0) at College Station (2-0), 7:30

Lehman (0-2) at Lockhart (0-2), 7:30

Non-district

Humble Atascocita (2-0) at Westlake (2-0), 7

Lake Travis (2-0) at Midland Legacy (0-2), 7

Dripping Springs (1-1) at Harker Heights (2-0), 7:30

Del Valle (1-1) at Leander (1-1), 7

Akins (1-1) at Manor New Tech (1-1), 7:30

Copperas Cove (1-1) at Georgetown (2-0), 7

Huntsville (1-1) at Cedar Park (1-1), 7

El Paso Eastlake (1-1) at Liberty Hill (1-1), 6

Rouse (1-1) at Waco Midway (2-0), 7

Wimberley (2-0) at LBJ (1-0), 7:30

McCallum (1-1) at Dallas Pinkston (0-2), 7

Pflugerville (2-0) at Fort Bend Christian (0-2), 7

Navarro (2-0) at Travis (1-1), 7:30

Bryan Rudder (2-0) at Connally (1-1), 7:30

San Antonio Wagner (0-1) at San Marcos (0-2), 7:30

Elgin (0-2) at Montgomery (2-0), 7

Bastrop (1-1) at Prestonwood Christian (1-1), 7

Burnet (0-2) at Academy (0-2), 7:30

Marble Falls (1-1) at Llano (1-1), 7

Taylor (0-2) at Lago Vista (1-1), 7:30

Salado (0-2) at Giddings (1-1), 7:30

La Grange (1-1) at Smithville (0-2), 7:30

Jarrell (2-0) at Caldwell (1-1), 7:30

Thrall (2-0) at Eastside (0-2), 7:30

Austin Achieve (0-2) at Florence, 7

Lampasas (2-0) at Killeen Chaparral (2-0), 7

Luling (1-1) at San Antonio Burbank (1-1), 7

Waco Riesel (1-1) at Thorndale (1-1), 7

Off this week: Cedar Creek, Manor

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