Past Events
NFFF Stair Climb
Lambeau Field
Green Bay, WI 2018
Randi rings the bell
Made it to the top
A night at Lambeau
Pre-climb ceremonies
September 2018 Memorial Run was on static display at Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers, for the annual National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Stair Climb. This event is one of many held at various venues around the country to raise funds to support the NFFF. We were invited by Pierce Manufacturing, one of the finest fire engine manufactures in the world. The objective of the even was for nearly 3000 firefighters, family, friends, and even pilots from United Airlines was to enter Lambeau Field in groups of 343 every 10 minutes and climb stairs equivalent to that of the height of the World Trade Centers. At the equivalent of the 78th floor; the highest level reached by New York City Firefighters before the towers collapsed, each climber rang the memorial bell in honor of the FDNY firefighter they were climbing in memory of. The ultimate goal (not all could achieve) was to make it to the 110th floor; 2226 stairs. In our case we (Randy and 12 year old granddaughter Randi) climbed in memory of Robert J. Foti, and made it to the top.
2018 GBATS
Truck Show & Convoy
Joplin, MO
The fleet of trucks from CEI
September 2018 took us home to the Guilty By Association Truck Show and Convoy for Special Olympics in Joplin, Missouri. 693 big trucks were on display for the 3 day show that ended, as always, with the convoy into downtown Joplin where these trucks took over the streets for a show and concert by Confederate Railroad. This year was another record with 522 participating in the convoy. This years events raised more than $190,000 for Special Olympics.
The Convoy, Joplin, MO
Granite Mountain Hotshots
Interactive Learning Center
Opening, Prescott, AZ
Yarnell Hill, AZ
Five years after the loss of 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots in Yarnell, Arizona their foundation opened a learning and tribute center to memorialize and educate the public on the fire and the loss of the team. Their story can be seen in the movie titled "Only The Brave."
Fire & Life Safety Day
Eugene, Oregon
October 6, 2018
The Bomb Squad robot gets in
Fire and Life Safety Day at Jerry's Home Improvement in Eugene, Oregon is an annual event put on by the Lane Fire Authority. This is the department (back then it was the Veneta Fire Department) Randy started his fire career at in 1983. By absolute coincidence a load took them to Oregon where they rarely travel to on the day prior to this event which marked 35 years ago that week that Randy had joined this department. Equipment of all types were brought in from around the area including the U.S. Coast Guard helicopter and the Eugene Bomb Squad that utilized their robot to access Memorial Run...just to see if it could be done. It successfully opened the truck.
Fourth of July Celebration
Neosho, Missouri
AFTERSHOCK lights up the night prior to a 300 mph run down the runway
At home for the 4th of July weekend found us up aside AFTERSHOCK. This jet power fire engine is one of several jet powered trucks owned by Darnell Racing Enterprises in Springfield, Missouri including SHOCKWAVE, the fastest semi truck in the world at 375 mph. Twin Rolls Royce jet engines are the power plant in this 1940 fire truck and collectively produce 24,000 horsepower. That kind of power has put it in the Guinness World Records as the fastest fire truck in the world at 407 miles per hour. This truck can be at your fire before it even starts.
Memorial Run 2.0
Comes To Life
August of 2020 saw Memorial Run 2.0 come to life. The artists and graphics installers at Thunder Grapix spent several days modifying some of the graphics and installing them on the second Memorial Run. The modifications were subtle and may be missed by most people without pointing them out. The first truck suffered an engine failure just short of 500,000 miles and was retire, making room for 2.0.
Missouri State Fire Marshal's
Stair Climb 2020
September took Memorial Run back to Jefferson City to the Missouri State Fire Marshal's annual Stair Climb event benefiting Supporting Heroes, Inc. This year, rather than simply seeking donations, teams were competing for top donor honors. At stake was the new "traveling trophy" that no one was aware of until Memorial Run was invited down to the field to accept it for the first time. The nearly two foot tall trophy is topped with a working memorial bell and is flanked on either side of the trophy by the World Trade Centers Twin Towers. A fitting trophy to honor the fallen firefighters of 9/11. From Jeff City the trophy was taken on Memorial Run for a thank you tour to be shared with donors and Gold Ribbon families.
Missouri State Fire Marshal's
Stair Climb 2021
Porterville, CA Fire Department
Emilia (with Phoenix) calls it "her daddies trophy
September 11th found Memorial Run back in Jefferson City at the Missouri State Fire Marshal's annual Stair Climb event benefiting Supporting Heroes, Inc. This year took on a greater meaning after taking the trophy on the cross country tour and meeting families of our fallen we met with the Figueroa family in Delano, California. Raymon Figueroa was killed in the Porterville Library fire in early 2020. We met his wonderful young daughter who came to call the trophy "her daddies trophy." We had to retain that trophy for her and we did. Memorial Run was the top Team donor and the top Individual Donor taking trophies for each class. Covid crept into team Rogers camp for the second time in 18 months and bumped Randy from the event. Younger brother Jay is a firefighter and stepped up and made the climb for the team.