written and contributed by Lauren Taylor
Twenty-five years ago, the United States was shaken by the tragic events that unfolded on the morning of 9/11. Two passenger jets crashed into the World Trade Center towers in New York City; another crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and one plummeted into an empty field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. All four had been hijacked by terrorists. The attacks took the lives of 2,977 victims.
In the immediate aftermath of the devastation in New York, first responders rushed to the scene to begin search and rescue operations. Among those was Stephen Siller, a 34-year-old firefighter in Brooklyn, New York, who had just finished his overnight shift. He was headed to play golf with his brothers, but once he heard the news, Stephen returned to his squad, picked up his gear and drove his truck to the entrance of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel. There, he faced his first obstacle; law enforcement had already closed the tunnel to vehicular traffic for security purposes.
Determined to fulfill his duty as a first responder, Stephen strapped 60 pounds of gear to his back and raced – on foot – through the tunnel to the Twin Towers, where he gave his life while valiantly trying to save the lives of others.
In the months following the 9/11 tragedy, Stephen’s siblings founded the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a nonprofit established to honor his sacrifice and those of other first responders and military personnel. To date, the foundation has raised over $1 billion to support our nation’s greatest heroes and their families, provided over 1,700 mortgage-free homes to families of service members and first responders, and provided housing assistance and supportive services for more than 20,000 homeless veterans.
The foundation’s keystone event is the Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk, held the last Sunday of September in New York City. What began with 1,500 people in 2002 is now considered by many to be one of the top 5K runs in America. Additionally, businesses and organizations across the country host 5K events throughout September to honor those who lost their lives. Locally, Fort Myers hosts its version of the event this year on Saturday, Sept. 12 at Florida SouthWestern State College.
The event symbolizes Stephen’s final footsteps from the Battery Tunnel to the Twin Towers while paying homage to the 343 New York City firefighters, 72 law enforcement officers and thousands of civilians who lost their lives on 9/11. Proceeds from the event support the Foundation’s programs, including those benefitting first responders and catastrophically injured service members.
This year, I have the privilege of chairing the Fort Myers Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk. This is a great opportunity to join the event and show your support and appreciation for Stephen and other first responders who sacrificed their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. For more information or to register for the event, please click here.
We must never forget.
About the Author
Lauren Taylor is the regional manager at Taylor Carpet One and chair of the Fort Myers Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk. The Sept. 12 event supports the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.