This Year America Climbs With You
“On September 11, 343 FDNY firefighters climbed the World Trade Center towers to save others. This year, 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.”
Launch the Movement in Your Community
Created By: National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
Section 01
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.
Section 02
This Year America,
Climbs With You.
For decades, fire departments have climbed 110 stories to honor the 343 FDNY firefighters who gave their lives on 9/11. We honor that, and the tradition continues.
For the 25th anniversary, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation is inviting every American to climb one flight alongside you. Every flight helps symbolically finish the heroic climb of the 343 and honors every firefighter who has made the ultimate sacrifice.
Your Department Can Lead the Movement
Scan the QR code and climb one flight.
Ask your department to climb, share, and challenge three.
Post your crew videos and photos, movement graphics, and the QR code.
Ask the Community To:
Climb one flight anywhere, or join an NFFF Official 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb.
Visit ForThe343.org, tap Climb One Flight Now, and add your flights to the nationwide total.
Challenge three others to climb and keep the movement growing.
Everything You Need Is Ready
Kit includes a community email, roll call script, social media posts, campaign graphics, and a station flyer with QR code. Invite your firefighters, families, first responders, city leaders, local businesses, and your entire community to participate.
A National Movement From
Section 03
How It Works Crew Brief
Fire Departments: keep climbing your 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.
“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.
Section 04
Promotion Pack Everything pre-made
QR Posters – Get QR Code Flyer Here
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.
Email for Citizens
Subject: This 9/11, Climb With Us For The 343
Preview text: Climb one flight. Help America finish their climb.
Neighbors,
This September 11 marks 25 years since 343 FDNY firefighters climbed to save others and never came home. To honor them, [DEPARTMENT NAME] is inviting our entire community to join For The 343, a national movement from the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
It’s simple:
- Climb one flight of stairs anywhere.
- Share your tribute at ForThe343.org.
- Challenge three others to climb.
Every flight joins the nationwide total and helps symbolically finish the heroic climb of the 343. Together, we also honor every firefighter who has made the ultimate sacrifice.
Climb one flight at home, work, school or anywhere you find stairs. [If you have an Official Climb, add this: Or, join the Official 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb on DATE.]
Our department is climbing. Will you climb with us? Visit: ForThe343.org
Together, we finish their climb. Together, America will Never Forget.
[Chief or Fire Department Representative]
[Department Name]
Section 05
Fire Department FAQs
›What is #ForThe343?
A nationwide movement, by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, inviting every American to help finish the heroic climb of the 343 FDNY firefighters who gave their lives on 9/11. This year, the 25th anniversary of 9/11, together, we honor the 343 and every firefighter who has made the ultimate sacrifice.
›Why are fire departments being invited?
Fire departments are trusted community leaders. Your invitation can inspire citizens to turn remembrance into action and carry the legacy of the fallen forward.
›What are we asking our community to do?
Invite everyone to climb one or more flights, record them through Climb One Flight Now at forthe343.org, share their tribute, and challenge three others. Every flight joins the nationwide total.
›Tell your community, why we climb and ask them to join.
On September 11, 343 FDNY firefighters climbed the World Trade Center towers to save others. Each flight climbed today symbolically helps finish their heroic climb and honors all firefighters who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
›Do participants need to climb all 110 stories?
No. Climb one flight, several flights, or all 110. Every step counts.
›How can our department participate?
Climb together at your station, in a stairwell, on stair-climbing machines, or anywhere you choose. Invite your firefighters, families, and community to join or participate wherever they are.
›The Department climbs at a gym. How do we enter a department or group climb?
Select Climb One Flight Now at forthe343.org, upload a group photo, choose Group on the share page, and enter the number of participants and flights climbed by each. Your entire effort is added to the nationwide total at once.
›What if we participate in an Official 9/11 Stair Climb?
Amazing! Add those flights. Your local event can become part of the nationwide total while inviting citizens who cannot climb all 110 flights to participate anywhere.
›How is participation tracked?
Through Climb One Flight Now, participants enter their flights, city, and state. Every flight is added to the nationwide total and interactive map, showing America climbing together.
›How do we share the challenge?
Use the sample posts and scripts across social media, email, newsletters, websites, and word of mouth. Share forthe343.org or the campaign QR code, and encourage every member of your department to help spread the invitation.
›How do participants share their tribute?
From Climb One Flight Now, share directly from your phone to major social media platforms or send it by text or email. Challenge three others and use #ForThe343 to keep the movement growing.
›What if someone cannot climb stairs?
They can walk, run, bike, roll, share a 9/11 memory, thank their local fire department, honor a fallen firefighter, or donate. Every sincere act of remembrance matters.
›Can we honor our own fallen firefighters?
Of course. This movement is to honor all fallen firefighters. Having your community honor one of your own is the perfect use of the movement.
›Is participation free?
Yes. Participation is free. Donations to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation are optional and support Fire Hero Families, remembrance, education, and firefighter safety.
›Where do we begin?
Visit forthe343.org and download a participation kit, which will give you updates on your state’s participation and find an Official 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb, select Climb One Flight Now, donate, and access campaign resources.
For the 343 · Fire Department Kit FDK v4.00 · Climb One Flight for the 343 · #ForThe343