GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – On the twenty fourth anniversary of one of the darkest days in our nation’s history, the Green Bay Packers and their fans remember the victims of the 9/11 terror attacks.
The Packers played Washington on Thursday night, ironically the same opponent they played 24 years ago in their first game after the terror attacks. Scott Schwartz was at that game back in 2001.
“At that moment when he grabbed the flag to run across the field, it didn’t matter if you were wearing a Packers jersey or a Redskins jersey you were just proud to be an American,” Schwartz told Local 5 News.
For many fans, the most memorable part of the Packers first post-9/11 football game was Packers linebacker Chris Gizzi running out of the tunnel waving an American flag to deafening applause from the Lambeau Field faithful. Gizzi graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy.
The Packers ended up beating the then Washington Redskins 37-0 in that game which was on Monday Night Football.
The NFL had postponed its entire slate of week two games after the attacks. The Packers were supposed to go to the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey (about 13 miles away from New York City) to play the New York Giants.
Schwartz said it was hard to hold back tears watching Gizzi run across the field with the American flag on that night. Fast forward 24 years, and Schwartz is in the parking lot handing out a special button ahead of the Packers game on Thursday night to honor and remember the 9/11 victims.
Schwartz’s button has a picture of Gizzi holding the American flag. Underneath the picture are the words ‘We Will Never Forget.’
Kraft’s big night and defensive excellence lead Packers to 27-18 win over Commanders
“Proud to be an American and proud that we came together on that day,” said Schwartz.
Schwartz is one of the key organizers of the famous tailgate atmosphere in Lot 1 at Lambeau Field ahead of every home game. One of the guys who helps him out with the tailgate, Justin Sipla, was in New York City during the terrorist attack.
“There was this unity and the coming together of those Americans that to this day is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen,” Sipla said describing the atmosphere in New York City in the days following the attack. “I think there’s a lot to be learned about what we can do in the face of tragedy. Americans have a way of climbing to the top in the face of adversity. Never saw that so succinctly and perfectly in the days after 9/11.”
Sipla said he hopes when Packers fans at the game Thursday night reflect on 9/11 they see that we’re all united not just as fans of the green and gold, but also as Americans.
The Packers had a ceremony ahead of kickoff on Thursday night to honor and remember the victims of 9/11. Joining them for the ceremony was Julie Henneberry who lost her father Peter Freund on that terrible day back in 2001.
Freund was a firefighter with Engine Co. 55 in Manhattan’s Little Italy. He was a firefighter for over 20 years and rose to the rank of lieutenant. Henneberry told Local 5 News that learning about her father’s heroism on that day has helped temper some of her grief.
“He stayed in the towers to help people, and I think that’s why first responders do that (put their own lives in danger) is to help people in need,” said Henneberry.
She told Local 5 News after receiving counseling to help her cope with the pain she felt after her father’s death, she has found some comfort in sharing his story with others. She also runs marathons to raise money in her father’s honor for charities that help first responders and their families.
“(I want him to be remembered) as a selfless man who cared about others,” she said.
Next Level Pickleball to close Green Bay location, focus on Appleton expansion
Henneberry got to go on the field ahead of the game during the 9/11 remembrance ceremony and the National Anthem. Joining her was retired New York City firefighter Ron Parker.
Parker told Local 5 News that he was on vacation the day of the terror attack. But once he realized what was happening, he felt compelled to go to ground zero and help in any way he could. He spent several months after 9/11 helping out with recovery missions at ground zero.
He said he lost 45 friends in the attack, most of them his fellow New York City firefighters.
“I live everyday the best I can kind of through these guys because they were just amazing heroes,” Parker said. “My motto is never forget and (I’m trying to) keep that promise.”
Parker travels the country sharing his 9/11 experience with others. Nearly 3,000 people died in the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
On Sept. 20, Lambeau Field will host the 9/11 memorial stair climb. The event raises thousands of dollars for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
Participants climb the equivalent of the 110-story World Trade Centers by going up and down the stairs inside Lambeau Field. Each climber will carry the picture of a firefighter who died on 9/11 and when they’re done they get to ring a bell and say that firefighter’s name.
For more information about the event, please click here.
