Appleton officers step up for 9/11

APPLETON - On Tuesday, the all-too familiar sound of bag pipes could be heard across the country. But at Appleton's Banta Bowl, the tune of tribute, quickly morphed into motivational music.

About two dozen Appleton Police officers and workers took to the steps of the Lawrence University football stadium to honor the 343 firefighters and 72 law enforcement officers killed in New York on 9/11.

“They went in to save people's lives and had to climb several sets of stairs to do it,” said Sgt. Matt Peeters of the Appleton Police Department.

Each participant climbed 110 flights, the same number as in the World Trade Center. The flights contain 23 steps, which is also the number of NYPD officers lost eleven years ago.

“I think it comes out to about 25-hundred steps if I'm doing my math right,” said Peeters.

Officer Matt Kuether took on the challenge in uniform.

“They were climbing all these steps in uniform and so I'm here to have as realistic of a feel of what they had,” said Kuether.

But in the end, he realizes there is no comparison.

“At the end of the day this is nothing more than a workout,” said Kuether.

A workout, these officers say is the least they can do to honor the fallen.

“This is about remembering the sacrifice that everyone made,” said Peeters.

This was the second year of the event.