The family of FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller will retrace his route through the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. The private walk will be led by his brother, Frank Siller, before the family joins friends and supporters at the FDNY Ten House. The gathering will conclude Tunnel to Towers’ Steel Across America tour, which has carried a 21-foot World Trade Center steel beam across the country since May. The event will also highlight the foundation’s continuing work supporting fallen first responders, service members, veterans and their families.
| 1) | A family retraces a firefighter’s 9/11 route |
| 2) | The final stop of the Steel Across America tour |
| 3) | How Stephen Siller answered the call on 9/11 |
| 4) | A foundation built on service and remembrance |
| 5) | The 343 Homes Initiative for fallen heroes |
A family retraces a firefighter’s 9/11 route
Members of the Siller family will walk through the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel in New York as part of the 25th-anniversary observance of the September 11, 2001, attacks. The private walk follows the path taken by FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller after the tunnel was closed to vehicles for security reasons. Afterward, Frank Siller and other family members will meet hundreds of friends and supporters at the FDNY Ten House.
The route is intended to connect the public commemoration with the personal story that inspired Tunnel to Towers. It will retrace the final journey of a firefighter who left his vehicle, carried his equipment and continued toward the World Trade Center on foot.
The final stop of the Steel Across America tour
The walk will conclude the Steel Across America tour, which began in May and traveled to locations throughout the United States. The tour has featured a 21-foot steel beam recovered from the South Tower of the World Trade Center and used it to share Stephen Siller’s story with communities across the nation.
The traveling effort was organized ahead of the 25th anniversary to preserve the memory of those killed and to recognize the first responders and other Americans who acted during the attacks. Its final stop in New York brings the beam and the national tour back to the story’s central location.
How Stephen Siller answered the call on 9/11
On the morning of September 11, Stephen Siller had completed his shift with the fire department when he learned that an aircraft had struck the World Trade Center. He drove toward the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel, but the entrance had been closed because of security measures.
Determined to reach the emergency, he carried about 60 pounds of equipment on his back and ran through the tunnel toward the Twin Towers. He died while helping save others. His actions became the foundation for the organization later established in his honor.
“While we have time, let us do good.”
A foundation built on service and remembrance
Led by chairman and CEO Frank Siller, Tunnel to Towers was created to honor Stephen Siller and support the families of fallen heroes. The organization says it has provided more than 1,700 mortgage-free homes to families of fallen service members and first responders, as well as to catastrophically injured veterans and first responders.
The foundation also says it has provided housing assistance and support services to more than 20,000 homeless veterans. Its nationwide events and educational programs seek to preserve the memory of September 11 and emphasize the courage of ordinary people during extraordinary circumstances. The organization’s 9/11 Institute provides lessons for students from kindergarten through 12th grade, while its mobile exhibit has traveled to nearly all 50 states and Canada.
The 343 Homes Initiative for fallen heroes
To mark the 25th anniversary, Tunnel to Towers launched the 343 Homes Initiative. The program is named for the 343 New York firefighters who died on September 11, 2001.
According to the organization, the initiative will provide 343 mortgage-free homes to families of fallen service members and first responders, along with catastrophically injured service members across the country. The program extends the foundation’s memorial mission into direct assistance for households affected by service-related loss and injury.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Siller family will retrace Stephen Siller’s route through the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel. |
| 2 | The walk will conclude the Steel Across America tour. |
| 3 | The tour carried a 21-foot South Tower steel beam across the nation. |
| 4 | Tunnel to Towers supports fallen heroes’ families, veterans and injured first responders. |
| 5 | The 343 Homes Initiative will honor the firefighters killed on September 11. |
Summary
The anniversary walk will return the Siller family to the path that defined Stephen Siller’s final act of service. It will also close a national tour focused on remembrance while underscoring Tunnel to Towers’ broader mission of providing practical support to families of fallen and injured heroes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who will participate in the anniversary walk?
Members of the Siller family, including Frank Siller, will take part in the private walk before joining supporters at the FDNY Ten House.
What route will the family retrace?
They will follow the route Stephen Siller took on foot through the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel toward the World Trade Center after the tunnel was closed.
What is the 343 Homes Initiative?
It is a program intended to provide 343 mortgage-free homes to families of fallen service members and first responders, as well as catastrophically injured service members.
