You Remember

Standing in an office at 565 Knox Boulevard, Radcliff Kentucky.

Every adult I have talked to in the last ten years knows exactly where they were when they learned or watched the horror of September 11, 2001.

For most of us, it was a visual horror, and we had a sense of disbelief. But for the citizens of the New York area, Washington DC and the victims on the aircrafts from all over the world, it was a first person experience. It changed millions of lives in the days and years that followed. We have sent nearly 2 million of our best young men and women into harm’s way, and what is now the longest war in our nation’s history. And the end is not in sight, just last week, on a bus in Frankfurt Germany, we were reminded of the vulnerability of a free citizen.

One man for me has come to symbolize this ten year period, and I only met his memory last September. I stood in the shadow of the new Freedom Tower at the site of the World Trade Center, and watched thousands of runners and walkers from across the nation and around the world retrace this remarkable young man, father of five, and a firefighter who gave his last full measure of life for people he didn’t know. I won’t tell his story, it is better read at www.tunneltotowersrun.org, but I will say that his footsteps will be an honor to follow this coming September.

Stephen Siller had a family who didn’t want his sacrifice to be forgotten, and that something good should come from his courage. For the last nine years, they have retraced his steps through the Battery Tunnel, ending at ground zero. In 2010, there were 25,000 who retraced his steps, many wearing full “turnout” gear, just like he did when he abandoned his vehicle and ran that route the first time. His fellow firefighters saved over 25,000 people that day, as they evacuated two of the tallest buildings in the world. 343 of those firefighters lost their lives, along with hundreds of police officers and port authority police, and other first responders.

This year, on the tenth anniversary, USA Cares has been given the opportunity to coordinate and authorize shadow runs across America, to that end, we have build a Guide Book and information at www.usacares.org/run. We are fortunate to partner with the Blue Star Mothers of America and their wonderful members, and as I write these words, we already have three cities who are creating events in their city, and intend to send a firefighter or representative to New York City on the 24^th of September and participate in the Stephen Siller Tunnel To Towers Run – NYC, but two weeks before that, the same steps will be followed in Albuquerque, Orlando and Cromwell, with other cities preparing to apply too.

The funds that are generated by these events will be to help the Stephen Siller Tunnel To Towers Foundation, USA Cares, Blue Star Mothers, or whatever local organization hosts the event to continue to do the good works that they do.

The Siller Foundation builds smart homes for severely wounded veterans, USA Cares marches toward granting $8 million to service members and veterans across the nation, and Blue Star Mothers continue to provide support to their sons and daughters and veterans across the nation.

As much as this about creating an opportunity to fund the good work they all do, it is also a method to remind all of us and those who watch, that we do remember that day, ten years ago, and the sacrifice and courage they displayed.

I intend to run the event in Los Angeles on the 11^th of September, and again in New York on the 25^th, join me, if you want to host a run/walk, contact me at run@usacares.org.

I know you remember right where you were on that day, so, tell me, where were you? Leave your answer below.

Roger

9-11, More Than Numbers: FF Stephen Siller's Footsteps

I wasn't prepared for the day. I, as almost all Americans over the age of 17 or so, remember exactly where they were on September 11, 2001.

I had just walked into my office when someone said in a loud voice, “Oh my God!” and I joined what is now estimated to be a third of the population of the planet in watching the tragic day through the eye of a camera.

What I equally wasn't ready for, was this past Saturday, when I heard the attack through Mike, Bobby and other’s eyes. We had flown into LaGuardia and picked up by these two retired New York Firemen in a SUV donated by actor Gary Sinise, the SUV helps NYFD families get around to appointments and other official events.

After a quick introduction, we headed into town, Bobby driving and Mike giving us the “down low” on all the things going on over the weekend, and how much they appreciated what USA Cares was doing for the troops.

They also told us about a Memorial that had been built honoring all the first responders that were lost that fateful day. And the more they talked about it, the more they decided we had to see it. “We had time” according to Mike, who appears to be the Grandfather of NYFD tackle football. We drove to the Brooklyn Cyclones baseball stadium on Surf Avenue, Brooklyn, New York.

There on the wall are 343 Fire Fighters, 23 Police Officers and 37 Port Authority Police Officers all appearing with their picture and their names. It wasn’t just about numbers. It was personal. Names, ranks, Ladder Companies, Squads, and them looking back at you.

The memorial also recognized the loss of 2,794 other Americans that day.

The first plaque I read was Stephen’s. The names and companies went on and on, and Bobby and Mike knew a story about almost everyone of them. We learned that as a rookie Fire Fighter joins the department, he works his way through different fire stations to learn different skills and techniques in the art of fighting fires, from one floor garages, to 110 floor sky scrapers. All part of the learning process, all part of building a brotherhood of thousands of fire fighters.

The other thing one can’t help but notice is that many of the names below the images are the same. Fathers, sons and cousins, all drawn to the same call: being a Fire Fighter…and many of them were drawn into the hell of that beautiful September morning.

Mike described Fire Fighters, one after another, not in terms of a courageous men, but of a fellow football player, a cousin, a friend, father and mentor. They talked about the first fireman to die, ironically killed when a “jumper” landed on him as he connected a hose to a hydrant. His fellow Fire Fighters were saved from being killed because they were moving him to a collection point when the first tower came down. They remembered the young Fire Fighter on his second fire, his first; a simple kitchen fire.

They talked about so many of these men as friends, still in the first person, and it became more and more obvious to me that without a doubt, they and the firemen I met over the next two days had all experienced a day that has no comparison, except maybe to those who fought through Pearl Harbor. It goes beyond words to describe their courage, imagining their dedication, as they were“Advancing to the the fire” above the 100^th floor. In both towers.

I was a policeman part of my life and worked around Fire Fighters as part of the job. We played baseball against them and complained about how they only worked two weeks a month, They seemed to have a good life. All that type of thinking has changed now for me. I wish I could go back in time and tell them how proud I was of them.

As we left the Memorial, they drove us on the same route that Stephen Siller had run with his “turnout” gear toward what was to become his last fire. I learned that if he had been a little farther down the road that day, he would have crossed the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and would not have been able to get back. However, Siller hadn’t made the turn yet. He heard the call, and when he found the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel blocked to traffic, he left his vehicle and ran the last three plus miles to join his company. This past Sunday, 25,000 runners followed his footsteps. An equal number or more cheered them on.

His brother George wrote in memory of his brother, words that I can’t do better.

By George Siller, in Memory of my brother Stephen Siller
November 15, 1966 - September. 11, 2001

It was a perfect day, so clear and so crisp.
Innocent workers entered the buildings, not knowing the risk.
This perfect day, full of sunlight and promise,
Became another holocaust, with days full of solace.
The terrorists aimed our own planes at the Towers.
My whole world stopped, in the ensuing hours.

My youngest brother Stephen had already finished his tour.
His three older brothers waited on the golf course, to make it four.
He heard the call, raced to the site, no more thoughts of the links,
Because that's just the way a fireman thinks!

No one really knows just how he got there.
I'm sure he never gave up, amidst all the despair.
We heard from a source, he ran through the tunnel on that fateful day.
He was just thinking of others, not worried about the price he would pay.
We all watched in horror as the Towers came down.
Please Dear God, we prayed, keep my brother safe and sound.
As the days moved on we came to accept
My brother Stephen was a hero, as were all the rest.
Such a perfect day had come and gone,
Now it's up to us, to carry on.
What to say to his five children and wife?
How do I try to explain what's ahead in their life?
I'll tell them their father was a saint and hero,
Who fought courageously, the battle at Ground Zero.

Yes, Stephen like many was too young and so brave.
When you're a fireman, you fear not the grave.
And now Squad 1 from Brooklyn knows, all eleven have died:
Not a single one of those brave souls was able to survive.

When will we smile again, when will we sleep?
The Lord has taken Stephen, his Soul to keep.
Such a perfect day has come and gone, And now it's up to us, to carry on.

Thank you Fire Fighter Siller, for your sacrifice and courage and the footsteps you showed us all.

Roger

PS. I want to also acknowledge Gary Sinise again, he and his wife were major supporters of this memorial that adorns the wall of the Cyclone Stadium, and if you have a chance, stop by 1902 Surf Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11224-2410 and spend a few minutes at the Memorial, you will be glad you did.

To Bobby and Mike, thanks for the time, the memories and the friendship, it was my honor to meet you.

Men like you don't just come along, they show up when you need them. I see that in the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen and Coasties that we work with everyday. You were the first Warriors that day, you and your "Band of Brothers" fought the good fight.

I could hear the pride in your voice as you talked about your friends, thanks for sharing with us.

For more information visit Tunnel to Tower Run

They are on Facebook too at Tunnel To Towers Run