GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) – A Green Bay Labor Day tradition returned to Shadow Lane next to Lambeau Field, as volunteers gathered to repaint the original Packers fence ahead of the start of the regular season.<\/p>\n
Every Labor Day, fans gather on Shadow Lane to repaint the fence outside the house where the tradition began.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the second year that we came out. It signifies the beginning of the Packers season. Go Pack Go,\u201d said Sherri Wagner, a Packers fan.<\/p>\n
For some, it has become a yearly ritual they will not miss.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have it on my calendar for the rest of my life. Every Labor Day, I\u2019m here. It\u2019s only the second year, but I\u2019m on it forever now,\u201d said Julie Schroeder, a Packers fan.<\/p>\n
Fence owner Peter Harrsch said that kind of devotion is the reason the tradition has continued year after year.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s such a big deal to see how much all these people love the Green Bay Packers…that they\u2019re willing to come out here and put the time and work in to put this beautiful saying up on this fence,\u201d Harrsch said.<\/p>\n
Choosing this year\u2019s phrase<\/p>\n
Before any paint goes on, the family has to decide what the fence is going to say.<\/p>\n
Each new Packers season starts with a new message on Lombardi Avenue, on the first fence to start the tradition. This year\u2019s phrase reads \u201cCrafted with love, a golden opportunity, and smack on target,\u201d referencing a new generation of players for the Green Bay Packers.<\/p>\n
It is one of the many phrases the Harrsch family spends weeks getting right each year.<\/p>\n
Harrsch said the phrase aims to represent this year\u2019s team while also displaying the names of their new core of players.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou could look at it as the team overall is crafted with love. The team is blessed with this golden opportunity…and then smack on target,\u201d Harrsch said.<\/p>\n
The phrase may change every year, but the reason generations of fans show up to paint it does not.<\/p>\n
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