GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – Students at Franklin Middle School got a firsthand account Tuesday of what it was like to be a New York City firefighter on September 11th, 2001.
Retired FDNY firefighter Ron Parker spoke to more than 600 students, sharing his experiences from the day that claimed the lives of 343 firefighters — including many of his friends.
“There’s not a day that goes by that all of a sudden something from one of them clicks,” Parker said. “You feel like you adopted a hundred kids, and some of them are firefighters. It’s great to see.”
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Parker told students he hopes the next generation understands both the sacrifices made and the challenges first responders faced.
“They are our future, and I strongly believe they can take this mixed up world and unravel it,” Parker said. “Look at what they’re inheriting — all kinds of crazy stuff.”
After hearing Parker’s story, students took part in Franklin’s annual stair climb — a tradition designed to help them grasp the physical and emotional toll of climbing the World Trade Center’s stairwells on that day.
“It’s a mental challenge for all of them knowing all or most of their buddies are dead because of it,” said eighth grader Greyson Rickel. “But it’s nice to know we can tell the next generation how severe it was.”
Others said wearing the heavy gear offered perspective. “It wasn’t super difficult, but it got hot really quick,” said student Kyle Juhl. “I don’t know how people wear this all day, every day.”
Parker, a lifelong Packers fan with family ties to Vince Lombardi, will also be honored at Lambeau Field Thursday night during the National Anthem before Green Bay’s game.
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“Thank God I don’t sing the national anthem,” Parker joked. “It wouldn’t be something you want to hear.”
