GREEN BAY, Wis — For seven years running firefighters and their families, from across the nation, have been visiting Lambeau Field to honor their brothers and sisters who lost their lives on 9/11.
On 09/11/01 343 firefighters lost their lives trying to save others before the twin towers fell. Today at Lambeau Field folks from across the country, tried to honor their sacrifice.
In total it's estimated that about 3,000 people showed up to Lambeau on Saturday to walk the equivalent of 110 stories, the same height as the World Trade Center. The idea was to walk the steps and complete the journey that all too many of those New York City firefighters couldn't complete. And by taking those strides up and down the aisles of Lambeau, these men and women have managed to raise about $635,000 in the last seven years for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Money that is used to assist the families of firefighters across the country who have died in the line of duty.
"We talked as we got towards the end of this, just remember the guys that had to do it for a living and walked those steps and then they had to fight fire. What we're doing, just walking the steps with no hose packs, no tools, we can do that," says Lt. Joe Paoli of the Town of Peshtigo Fire Department.
The 9/11 memorial stair climb at Lambeau has become the biggest of its kind in the country. Green Bay Metro's Fire Chief says he hopes that in 20 years, they can bring 20,000 people to the event.
