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Where were you when the world stopped turning, that September day? Nearly every adult can answer this “where were you” question. This year will mark the 16th year since the 9/11 attacks, meaning that nearly half of all U.S. high school students were born after 9/11/01.

To never forget that fateful event in our country’s history, 9/11 Memorial Stair Climbs are held around the United States to honor the 343 fallen firefighters from 9/11. The first stair climb began in 2005. The event has evolved and expanded over the years, but the same core principles of the stair climb remains.

 

2005: First 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb in Support of the NFFF

First-9-11-Memorial-Stair-Climb-Denver,-CO.pngIn 2005, five firefighters from the Denver area, Oren Bersagel-Briese, Scott Eckels, Dave McGrail, Sean Roeper, and Andy Singer, climbed 33 stories at a local Denver building on the first Saturday of every month. The group originally climbed together because it was a great training exercise and it was always fun for them. During their climb on Saturday, September 3, they realized that September 11 was near and decided to climb in honor of their fallen brothers from 9/11. On Sunday, September 11, the group decided to climb again, this time 110 stories – the height of the fallen Twin Towers. Upon completion of that climb, the group reflected on how moving of an experience it was to climb 110 stories, and they knew that they would all do it again the following year. 

 

 

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Grass Roots Build Up

In 2006, the group of five firefighters turned into 12. After sharing flyers and spreading the word to local fire departments, over 250 firefighters participated in the 2007 climb. Due to building capacity limitations, the event founders knew that they had to put a cap on the number of climbers that could participate. 343 was the logical choice, as that’s how many firefighters gave the ultimate sacrifice on 9/11. In 2008, the 4th annual stair climb maxed out at 343 participants. The Denver 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb, the first 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb in the nation, continues to sell out within hours every year.   

 

2009: Colorado Hosts the Second Stair Climb, General Public is Invited

As interest in the event increased and the Denver 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb quickly sold out, Shawn Duncan and Brian Brush started their own stair climb and opened it up to the public on September 11, 2009. In the first year, over 500 people completed the Colorado 9/11 Stair Climb at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Every year since its inception, the Red Rocks climb continues to attract more climbers and raise more money than the last. Their 2016 climb attracted over 3,500 attendees and raised over $100,000 for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

 

2010: First Stair Climb Is Hosted Outside the State of Colorado

In Nashville, Tennessee, Josh and Jessica Smith heard about the Denver stair climbs in the news. As a firefighter himself, Josh could not think of a better way to better honor the fallen 343 firefighters and support the NFFF and FDNY Counseling Unit. Smith reached out to Bersagel-Briese, to see if the Denver group would mind if he would start his own stair climb in Nashville. With the help of the Denver group, Smith successfully coordinated the first Nashville 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb on September 11, 2010, which was the first 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb hosted outside the state of Colorado. 

 

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

9-11-Memorial-Stair-Climb-Planning.pngAs word continued to spread about the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climbs, more people from around the country wanted to start their own stair climbs in their home cities, but no one knew what it took to host a climb. In 2010, Oren Bersagel-Briese from the Denver Stair Climb, Shawn Duncan from the Colorado Stair Climb, Josh Smith from the Nashville Stair Climb, and representatives from the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) met to discuss a plan for the stair climb program.

This was a beneficial meeting, as each group brought their own unique abilities and experiences. The Denver Stair Climb was an established firefighter-only climb, the Colorado Stair Climb had high attendance numbers and open to the public, the Nashville Stair Climb was a brand-new event, and the NFFF had the ability to take stair climbs to the national level. By the end of their meeting, a template was created, providing guidelines for any event coordinator to successfully run a 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb anywhere in the country.

The NFFF utilizes the proceeds raised from stair climbs to provide resources to the survivors of fallen fire heroes and to work within the fire service community to reduce firefighter deaths. 

 

Core Principles of a Stair Climb

Although each stair climb has its different qualities and participants come and go, the core principals always remain the same.

9-11-Memorial-Stair-Climb-Core-Principals.png1. Remembrance
During the climb, there’s a feeling of solemnness. When you climb the stairs, you’re hearing the constant footsteps made by yourself and others around you. It makes you think about what it would have been like climbing the stairs of the World Trade Center on 9/11. It reminds you of the commitment and dedication of those firefighters that had no idea what they were going up against. As time passes and we get further away from the tragic event, it’s becoming increasingly important to remember this time in our nation’s history.

2. Comradery
It’s a humbling experience to see a large group of firefighters and community members come together every year, all committed to remembering those who gave their lives on 9/11. Everyone motivates each other to continue climbing. There’s always smiles at the end of the climb. 

3. Physical Training
Climbing 110 stories isn’t easy for everyone. Those who previously couldn’t finish the climb are often motivated to build their endurance for the next year. It’s an accomplishment for climbers to come back the next year with the ability to complete the climb for one of the fallen FDNY firefighters.
  

 

We encourage you to join a climb in your area. Pierce is hosting its 5th Annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at Lambeau Field on September 16, 2017.

 

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Topics: Events


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, mini pumpers, 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.

About Oshkosh Corporation

At Oshkosh (NYSE: OSK), we make innovative, mission-critical equipment to help everyday heroes advance communities around the world. Headquartered in Wisconsin, Oshkosh Corporation employs approximately 17,000 team members worldwide, all united behind a common purpose: to make a difference in people’s lives. Oshkosh products can be found in more than 150 countries under the brands of JLG®, Hinowa, Power Towers, Pierce®, MAXIMETAL, Oshkosh® Defense, McNeilus®, IMT®, Jerr-Dan®, Frontline™ Communications, Oshkosh® Airport Products, Oshkosh® AeroTech™ and Pratt Miller. For more information, visit oshkoshcorp.com.

®, ™ All brand names referred to in this news release are trademarks of Oshkosh Corporation or its subsidiary companies.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that the Company believes to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s future financial position, business strategy, targets, projected sales, costs, earnings, capital expenditures, debt levels and cash flows, and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “should,” “project” or “plan” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company’s control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include the Company's ability to successfully integrate the AeroTech acquisition and to realize the anticipated benefits associated with the same; the risks associated with international operations and sales, including compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act;  the Company’s ability to comply with complex laws and regulations applicable to U.S. government contractors; cybersecurity risks and costs of defending against, mitigating and responding to data security threats and breaches impacting the Company; the Company’s ability to successfully identify, complete and integrate other acquisitions and to realize the anticipated benefits associated with the same; and risks related to the Company’s ability to successfully execute on its strategic road map and meet its long-term financial goals. Additional information concerning these and other factors is contained in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release. The Company assumes no obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to update information contained in this news release. Investors should be aware that the Company may not update such information until the Company’s next quarterly earnings conference call, if at all.

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