“On September 11, 343 FDNY firefighters climbed the World Trade Center towers to save others. This September, every American is invited to climb one flight of stairs to help symbolically finish their heroic climb and honor every firefighter who has made the ultimate sacrifice.”
Climb For The 343.
You have been climbing 110 flights for the 343 for decades with NFFF Official Stair Climbs or at the station or gym to honor your fallen brothers and sisters.
For the 25th anniversary of 9/11, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation invites every American to join you. We’re inviting everyone to climb a flight of stairs to help symbolically finish the heroic climb of the 343 FDNY firefighters who gave their lives on September 11, 2001, and to honor every firefighter who has made the ultimate sacrifice.
It’s simple: Participants climb, record their flights at forthe343.org and their steps are added to the national count and interactive map. They share on social media using #ForThe343, and challenge three others to participate.
Climb. Share. Challenge.
The One-Pager · if you read nothing else, read this
For the 25th anniversary of 9/11, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation invites every American to climb one or more flights of stairs to help symbolically finish the heroic climb of the 343 FDNY firefighters who gave their lives on September 11, 2001, and to honor every firefighter who has made the ultimate sacrifice.
Participants climb, record their flights at forthe343.org so their steps are added to the national count and interactive map, share on social media using #ForThe343, and challenge three others to participate.
Brief your crews
Read the 90-second roll-call script (Section 3) at shift change.
Launch it to your town
Post the QR Code. Share on social media. Challenge your community to climb for the 343.
Scan to participate now
forthe343.org · Climb. Record. Share. Challenge. #ForThe343
Why Your Department
Because your community trusts you more than anyone. When the firehouse says “this matters,” the town listens. This campaign travels on that trust, and it goes nowhere without you.
Because this is your tradition. The 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb began with five Colorado firefighters ascending 110 flights in full gear in a Denver stairwell in 2005. By 2008 every climber carried the name and photograph of one of the 343. Today, Official 9/11 Memorial Stair Climbs are held in more than 40 states. For the 343 extends that tradition to every member of your community.
Because every flight finishes their climb. On September 11, the 343 climbed the World Trade Center towers to save others. For the 25th anniversary, every American can climb one or more flights to help symbolically finish their heroic climb and honor every firefighter who has made the ultimate sacrifice.
Because every tribute supports Fire Hero Families. The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, established by Congress in 1992, honors fallen firefighters, supports their families, and works to reduce line-of-duty deaths. Every flight climbed and every dollar donated strengthens that mission.
“343 climbed for us. This September, we climb for them.”
How It Works · Crew Brief
Fire Departments Keep Climbing their 110 flights at an Official Stair Climb and count your flights in the tool.
What You Are Asking the Community to Do
One action. Four steps. Done in a minute:
- Climb a flight of stairs, anywhere: at work, a community landmark, the bleachers, or at home, by yourself or with friends and family. Every flight helps finish the heroic climb of the 343.
- Record flights at forthe343.org. Every climb is added to the national count and displayed on the interactive map.
- Share on social media, by text, email, newsletter, or word of mouth. Use #ForThe343.
- Challenge when you share, three friends, family members, coworkers, or neighbors to climb one flight and keep the movement growing.
No app required. No personal data collected. Participation is free. Donations to the NFFF are optional and tax deductible.
The Roll-Call Script · 90 seconds
“Before assignments, one thing worth ninety seconds.
This September marks twenty-five years since 9/11. Three hundred forty-three FDNY firefighters climbed the towers that morning and never came home.
This year, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation is asking every American to climb one flight of stairs to help finish their heroic climb and honor every firefighter who has made the ultimate sacrifice.
Here is how it works. Go to forthe343.org. Climb one or more flights, anywhere. Record your flights on the site so they count toward the national total. Share it, and challenge three people to do the same. That is it.
Every flight and every dollar supports the NFFF and Fire Hero Families.
The code is on the board. Takes a minute. Do it on shift today, and challenge three people when you are done.
That is it. Assignments.”
Timing: approximately 90 seconds. Post the QR poster (Section 4) on the board before briefing.
Promotion Pack · everything pre-made
Print files and editable versions download from forthe343.org.
NOTE: Social media, emails, newsletters and all creative coming Tuesday.
QR Posters
Three sizes: bay window (24×36), letter (8.5×11), and banner. Each with the campaign artwork and the QR code linking to forthe343.org. [PRINT FILES IN PRODUCTION]
Social posts · copy, fill, publish
This September marks 25 years since 343 FDNY firefighters climbed into history. [DEPARTMENT] is joining For the 343. Climb one flight of stairs, record it at forthe343.org, share it, and challenge three others. Every flight helps finish their heroic climb. forthe343.org #ForThe343
Today, [TOWN] climbs. Every flight honors the 343 FDNY firefighters who gave their lives on September 11, 2001, and every firefighter who has made the ultimate sacrifice. Climb one flight. Record it. Share it. Challenge three. forthe343.org #ForThe343
[TOWN], thank you. You climbed for the 343 and for every firefighter who has made the ultimate sacrifice. Every flight, every share, every challenge makes a difference. Together, we finish the climb. #ForThe343
For your local paper
A ready-to-publish article is available in the campaign Press Kit at forthe343.org. Send it to your paper’s editor with your department name filled in. Free for publication; photos available.
Radio / event PA · 30 seconds
“Twenty-five years ago, 343 firefighters climbed the World Trade Center towers to save others and never came home. This September, [DEPARTMENT] invites all of [TOWN] to climb one flight of stairs to help finish their heroic climb and honor every firefighter who has made the ultimate sacrifice. Visit forthe-3-4-3-dot-org. Climb. Share. Challenge three others. #ForThe343.”
Fire Department FAQs