Guest Commentary | Tunnel to Towers Foundation supports America’s heroes
Nearly 24 years ago, on Sept. 11, 2001, the world as we knew it, changed forever. As two jets crashed into the World Trade Center in Manhattan, one plane slammed into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and a fourth plane plummeted into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, emergency responders began rushing to the scenes of these terrible tragedies.
One of those responders was Stephen Siller, a 34-year-old firefighter in Brooklyn, New York, who had just finished his overnight shift and was headed to play golf with his brothers. Once he heard the news of the first aircraft hitting the North Tower, Stephen returned to his squad to get his gear.
He drove his truck to the entrance of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, but it had already been closed for security purposes. Determined to carry out his duty, he strapped 60 pounds of gear to his back and raced on foot through the tunnel to the Twin Towers, where he gave up his life while valiantly saving the lives of others.
Shortly after the horrific events of 9/11, Stephen’s siblings founded the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a nonprofit established to honor his sacrifice and the sacrifices of other first responders and military personnel. The foundation’s core mission is to support injured veterans, first responders and their families. This includes building smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans, providing mortgage-free homes to families of fallen first responders and supporting Gold Star families.
Each year, on the last Sunday of September, the Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk is held 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. Locally, Fort Myers hosts its version of the event on the first Saturday of September, this year being Sept. 6.
The event symbolizes Stephen’s final footsteps from the Battery Tunnel to the Twin Towers and pays homage to the 343 New York City firefighters, law enforcement officers and thousands of civilians who lost their lives on 9/11.
Additionally, businesses and organizations across the country host 5K events throughout September to honor those who lost their lives. Proceeds from the events support the Foundation’s programs, including those benefiting first responders and injured service members.
I am proud to be the chair for the Fort Myers Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk taking place on Saturday, Sept. 6 at Florida SouthWestern State College. I hope you’ll come out and take part in the festivities as we honor and remember those that sacrificed their lives on that fateful day. For more information, please visit t2t.org.
Lauren Taylor is the operations manager at Taylor Carpet One, a proud sponsor of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. She is also the local chair for the Tunnel to Towers 5K Run.