A feel good morning in Savannah, Georgia

By Chris Katon, September 14, 2013

A dozen years after the 9/11 tragedy, the “Stephen Siller Tunnel To Towers Foundation”  5-K Run/Walk was held in downtown Savannah this morning to honor the memories of our fallen hero’s.

The legacy began on September 11, 2001. FDNY father of five, Stephen Siller was on his way to meet his three brothers to play golf. When he heard on his scanner what had happened at the World Trade Center, he strapped on 60 lbs. of firefighter gear, rushed on foot through gridlocked traffic and ran from the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to the World Trade Center site.

Stephen was last seen with his brothers of Squad 1; all of whom died saving others.

Stephen’s loved ones organized the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation as a living, breathing tribute to all that died on 9/11 and to those who serve in the line of duty to protect our country.

During an announcement at today’s race, participants learned that fundraising from local firefighters, police and military raised more than $60,000 today to help build smart homes to in honor of 9/11/01 heroes.

 

Congratulations to the Bluffton Fire Department, who won the Siller Cup as today’s first place team.

What began as a runner-led memorial for Siller eventually evolved into ensuring that honor and service is provided to the brave men and women serving in America’s recent wars, as well as our courageous first responders who serve domestically each and every day.

In 2011, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation officially began the Building for America’s Bravest program (BFAB) to provide a specially adaptive home for the first ever quadruple amputee to survive, Army Specialist Brendan Marrocco. 

Building for America’s Bravest (BFAB) is a proud program of the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation in partnership with the Gary Sinise Foundation. It aims to raise funds to build custom designed, specially adapted homes for the most catastrophically injured American service members.

For the past several years Mr. Sinise has devoted much of his time to supporting the men and women who protect and defend our country. He has formed the Gary Sinise Foundation to help build additional resources for these efforts and to help highlight the activities of those who continue to do all they can to keep military families strong.

Sinise has traveled to visit our troops in Iraq and around the world and has also performed with his band, Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band, in Afghanistan, Europe, United Kingdom, Asia, Guantanamo Bay and throughout the U.S. in an effort to help boost the morale of our troops and military families.

The needs of every catastrophically injured service member are different, and a Smart Home from Building for America’s Bravest program is specifically catered to the unique needs of its recipients.

Smart Homes host a myriad of features such as automated doors and lighting, wider doors and special showers to accommodate wheelchairs, cabinets and counters that can be raised and lowered, and central heating and air condition systems that can be controlled by iPads.

Through donations, the Building for America’s Bravest program can help America’s military heroes support their families and live the rest of their lives as independently as possible.

By the end of 2013, BFAB has the goal to have completed or broken ground on 23 Smart Homes for veterans across the country.

 

A contribution of any size is fully tax-deductible and greatly appreciated. If you can donate your time and talents,  T2Trun.org is always looking for volunteers for events held around the country. If you are a part of a corporation looking to make an impact please email partners@ourbravest.org

The next T2T road race is scheduled to be held in New York City on September 29th when participants will retrace the final footsteps of Stephen Siller from the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to the World Trade Center site.

For more information, please visit http://www.t2trun.org/site/displaySite.do?siteIdCode=BMJ6KQZ1