RED WING, MN -- Red Wing Shoe Company unveiled its Wall of Honor, a monument that features epic stories about skilled laborers and their Red Wing boots, in the honorees own words. The Wall of Honor pays tribute to those who have handled some of the toughest jobs such as delivering goods and services across ports and seaways as a U.S. Merchant Marine; installing the spire atop the Willis Tower in Chicago; and the cleanup at ground zero after the 9/11 attacks.
Red Wing asked for customer stories in the summer of 2017, and after receiving nearly 500 submissions, selected 32 to highlight, along with their boots, on a permanent, physical Wall of Honor at its flagship store in Red Wing, Minn. In addition, a virtual experience can be found at www.redwingamericaworking.com where the honorees impressive tales – surviving job-site accidents, repairing public services during dangerous storms or simply getting up each morning for decades knowing a trusted pair of boots would provide safety and comfort – are featured.
“We receive thousands of notes every year from workers sharing their Red Wing stories – and often times their boots – the Wall of Honor was created to honor these customers,” says Dave Schneider, chief marketing officer at Red Wing Shoe Company who conceived the Wall of Honor.
“Our customers tell us their Red Wing boots are like tools in their tool belt. We are touched by the amount of love our brand receives, and it felt right to provide a space where their stories can live forever, paying respect to our customers’ boots and the remarkable work they have accomplished in their communities.”
Since its founding in 1905, Red Wing has focused on providing purpose-built footwear designed to handle and outlast all kinds of demanding work without sacrificing comfort. To that end, the Wall of Honor chronicles work from several industries including commercial and residential construction, energy, manufacturing and public services.
Submissions are open for the 2019 Wall of Honor at www.redwingamericaworking.com.
One of the first inductees into the wall of honor is Edward Shaw, a firefighter/first responder with the Corpus Christi, TX, Fire Department. Shaw said: “When people are experiencing tough moments in their life, I feel honored to be helping them however I can. I’ve been a firefighter at this location for 13 years. Every time the alarm rings, the first thing you hear is all of our boots zipping up. Most of us wear Red Wings, just like me."
Shaw continued saying: "Our firehouse is in the heart of this city, near a lot of busy freeways and the refineries. On many shifts we are up all night responding to ambulance calls, fires, car accidents, even explosions. I’ve seen every part of life doing this — including when it gets taken too soon. When we get back in the rack at the station, it’s somehow comforting to see all our boots lined up and motionless, waiting to spring into action again when the next call comes in. And we know one will.
Commenting further, Shaw said, "My Red Wings are a salty pair. Everything about them tells a story. There are divots all over the leather. Scars from bouncing off the fire engine tailboard. And my soles are worn uneven from slouching at the end of a 24-hour shift. It’s no coincidence my dad wore Red Wings, too. He was a welder for 30 years. His boots were part of him, with the burn marks to prove it. For me, they became a symbol of the pride he took in working so hard at his job. I know he’d be proud that I turned out the same.”
About Red Wing Shoe Company
The Red Wing Shoe Company, Inc. is a global leader in the design, production and distribution of work, safety and lifestyle footwear and work apparel. Established in 1905 in Red Wing, Minn., today the privately-held company’s family of brands includes Red Wing®, the premium choice
for purpose-built work footwear, workwear and accessories including a collection of Heritage styles created for any occasion; Irish Setter®, the footwear brand of choice for hunters and workers who want uncompromising quality and technological innovation; Vasque, a pioneer of performance hiking footwear; WORX, a trusted brand for the industrial safety footwear market; and S.B. Foot Tanning Company, one of the largest USA producers of fine tanned leather for footwear and leather goods. Its brands are distributed to more than 110 countries in an immersive multi-channel environment of 500+ Red Wing retail stores, third-party partners, and owned ecommerce platforms. The Red Wing Shoe Company employs more than 2,000 employees worldwide today, and operates two U.S. manufacturing facilities in Red Wing and Potosi, Mo. For more information, please visit redwingshoes.com, facebook.com/RedWingShoes or follow @RedWingShoes.
