More than 2,700 Participate in Pierce's Annual Stair Climb for NFFF at Lambeau Field
APPLETON, WI – Firefighters, their families, friends and community members from across the nation gathered at historic Lambeau Field on Saturday, September 22 to participate in the sixth annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Over 2,700 participants promised to “never forget” by honoring and remembering the 343 New York firefighters who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. This year’s event raised more than $135,000 with all proceeds benefiting the NFFF and has again been recognized as one of the largest stair climbs in the nation.
“Each year, the Green Bay Metro Fire Department forms a team and we encourage community members to participate alongside those in fire service,” said Lieutenant Shauna Walesh, life safety educator/PIO with the Green Bay Metro Fire Department. “It’s an honor to symbolically finish the climb that many firefighters were unable to complete that day.”
9/11 Memorial Stair Climb participants had the opportunity to ascend the equivalent of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center while wearing a badge with the name and photograph of one of the fallen firefighters. At the 78th floor, the highest floor reached on 9/11, each climber rang a fire bell in honor of the individual on their badge.
“Since its inception, the Pierce Manufacturing team has been grateful for the opportunity to co-sponsor the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb along with the Green Bay Metro Fire Department,” said Jim Johnson, president of Pierce Manufacturing. “Not only is it an incredible day of remembrance and reflection, supporting the NFFF helps provide access to critical resources for survivors and co-workers of fallen firefighters.”
Since instituting a partnership with the NFFF, Pierce has helped raised more than $600,000 to support the NFFF’s mission to provide support and resources for the families of fallen firefighters. Through support networks, conferences, workshops and scholarships, the NFFF has lead a nationwide effort to develop and expand programming for the entire fire service community.
For more information about Pierce Manufacturing, the NFFF, and the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb, visit www.piercemfg.com/climb.
About National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization with a Congressional mandate to honor all firefighters who die in the line of duty in the United States. The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation is the only fire service organization that represents every facet of the American fire service – career, volunteer and wildland. The Foundation has created education and training programs to reduce firefighter deaths. The Foundation has no allegiance to any special interest. For more information, visit firehero.org.
About Pierce Manufacturing
Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation [NYSE: OSK] company, is the leading North American manufacturer of custom fire apparatus. Products include custom and commercial pumpers, aerials, rescue trucks, wildland trucks, minipumpers, elliptical tankers, and homeland security apparatus. In addition, Pierce designs its own foam systems and was the first company to introduce frontal airbags and the Side Roll Protection system to fire apparatus. To learn more about Pierce, visit www.piercemfg.com.
