Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers 5K this Sunday in Lewes

With the Tunnel to Towers 5K set for 8 a.m., Sunday, Aug, 12, in Lewes, I thought I would feature the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which I have learned a lot about over the past few months. I encourage my readers to spend some time looking at the website tunnel2towers.org, as it is powerful to see what the foundation has done since it was established following 9/11.

The impact that the foundation has had on many lives and families is just incredible.  

Here are a few:

• 1,500 runners and walkers participated in the inaugural Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk.

• The first smart home was constructed for quadruple amputee Brendan Marrocco, and hundreds of homes have since been built.

• 1 million volunteer hours and $50 million in services were provided to the victims of Superstorm Sandy. The foundation cleaned and gutted 1,800 homes and completely rebuilt 250 homes.

• More than $3.2 million has been pledged to families of fallen first responders through trust accounts and mortgage payoffs.

• For every dollar raised, 93 cents goes directly to programs.

So who is Stephen Siller?

Firefighter Stephen Gerard Siller was the youngest of seven children born to Mae and George Siller. At the age of 8, Stephen lost his father, and a year-and-a-half later his mother passed away, leaving him an orphan to be raised by his older siblings. For a while, Stephen went through a period of struggle, but thanks to the love of his siblings, and the values instilled in him by his parents, he grew up to be an extraordinary individual and dedicated firefighter. More than most, he knew that time was precious, and he accomplished much in his 34 years.

On Sept. 11, 2001, Stephen, who was assigned to Brooklyn’s Squad 1, had just finished his shift and was on his way to play golf with his brothers when he got word over his scanner of a plane hitting the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Upon hearing the news, Stephen called his wife Sally and asked her to tell his brothers he would catch up with them later. He returned to Squad 1 to get his gear.

Stephen 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 saving others.

Author and family friend Jay Price wrote: “Every momentous event, even a tragedy, has its symbolic figures. Sept. 11 was no different; it just had a few more of them. Rudy Giuliani, Father Mychal Judge, the four guys on United Flight 9 … a hundred more … a thousand. None bigger than Stephen Siller, whose stature only grows with time as New Yorkers and people from around the world follow his footsteps.”

Read more about the Delmarva event and get registered at tunnel2towers.org.

Run for the Paws 5K

Last week’s Run for the Paws brought out the best in the community to Dewey Beach with nearly 400 runners and walkers, more than 50 volunteers and sponsors, at least another 50 spectators, and a great host in the Starboard Restaurant. All proceeds are to benefit the Brandywine SPCA. We hope to have the total raised by next week.

It was so great to see it all come together on a fast and flat Seabreeze course (thanks to the Seabreeze HOA), the many donations, the addition to the event of author Craig and dog Fred who sold many books, the custom wood dog awards, and the great post-race party from Monty, Toast and crew. A great event!