Milwaukee--(June 5, 2009)--The Milwaukee Fire Department (MFD) joins the nationwide movement "Red Shirt Fridays" in an effort to show solidarity in support of our U.S. soldiers. Every Friday members of the MFD have the option to wear a traditional MFD t-shirt, with the department's logo on the front and "Fire & Rescue" on the back, in red. The shirts will be worn every Friday indefinitely and until all the U.S. troops return home.

"Participating in this national movement was an easy choice for the Milwaukee Fire Department," said Fire Chief Douglas A. Holton. "Our department has 9 members deployed on active duty and we would like to pour out our support for them, as well as all our troops, by joining the country in Red Shirt Fridays."

The shirts are also being sold to the public for $10 each at select engine houses. All net proceeds will go to the Home for Our Troops nonprofit organization and will be used to build a handicapped-accessible home for local veteran Jason M. Schulz. In 2007, Schulz lost both of his legs in Iraq upon return from a vehicle recovery mission. Later this year he will be discharged from the Army and will need a specially adapted home that will accommodate his needs and enable him to concentrate on his recovery.

"I applaud the men and women of the Milwaukee Fire Department for their participation in this very worthwhile cause," Barrett said. "I'm happy to participate and I look forward to hearing of their progress."

The red t-shirts come in sizes S-XXL and cash or checks are accepted. The t-shirts are available at:

• Engine 2, 755 N. 7th Street
• Engine 30, 2903 N. Teutonia Avenue
• Engine 28, 424 N. 30th Street
• Engine 12, 1400 S. 9th Street
• Engine 8, 5585 N. 69th Street
• Local 215 Union Office, 5625 W. Wisconsin Avenue

"We would like to thank the soldiers for all that they do because it allows my family and I, as well as other families across the nation, to have the freedoms we possess," said Kevin Monaghan, Local 215 Union Vice President. "Red Shirt Fridays send a message to our beloved troops that we support and salute them for their bravery and that we are no longer silent about it."

About Homes for Our Troops
Homes for Our Troops is a non-profit, non-partisan, 501 © (3) organization founded in 2004. This organization is strongly committed to helping those who have selflessly given to their country and have returned home with serious disabilities and injuries. We assist severely injured Servicemen and Women and their immediate families by raising donations of money, building materials and professional labor and then coordinating the process of building a new home or adapting an existing home for handicapped accessibility. The finished home is then given to the veteran at no cost.

Milwaukee Fire Department
The Milwaukee Fire Department (MFD) is the primary fire suppression, prevention, rescue and emergency medical service for the City of Milwaukee. The department's motto is "Courage, Integrity and Honor." MFD consists of approximately 1000 firefighters, many of which serve simultaneously as paramedics providing emergency medical services. MFD is known as one of the best fire departments nationwide for its response times and other quality services.