By Matt Smith WBAY TV Green Bay
Green Bay, WI –Hundreds of firefighters and community members battled the heat Sunday, climbing their way through Lambeau Field.
As part of Pierce Manufacturing’s 100th anniversary celebrations, it hosted a 9-11 memorial stair climb.
Pierce Manufacturing makes firefighting equipment and trucks.
The 110-story climb, symbolic of the height of the World Trade Center towers, honors the firefighters who died on September 11th.
Weaving up and down through the stadium bowl, climbers made five laps through part of the stadium.
“Just thinking about everybody who sacrificed their lives and what they’re thinking that day,” Duane Murphy said, a firefighter with the Kimberly Fire Department. “They didn’t think twice. They just did what they had to do.”
Green Bay’s fire department had EMS on hand along with water stations for the climbers.
“I want you guys to have a great event today,” Green Bay Metro Fire Chief David Litton said. “We’re here to raise money for that foundation. Please be safe.”
All proceeds from the event go to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
“Thinking of them that day,” Chad Miller said, an employee at Pierce Manufacturing and volunteer firefighter in Greenville. “I don’t think I”d ever be able to do that because we don’t have high rises in our town, so I don’t know that feeling they had, but I know the adrenaline you have when you’re on a call…we’re running in when everyone else is running out.”
Each climber held a picture of one of the 343 firefighters who died at the World Trade Center.