Red, white and blue reigned supreme and a dove release added to the pomp when Brooklyn’s Bravest joined runners from around the world for a “Tunnel to Towers” run, retracing the footsteps of a valiant Park Slope firefighter, who made the ultimate sacrifice on 9/11.
Waving American flags and toting memorial banners, the sea of runners traversed the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to Ground Zero in memory of those who perished in the World Trade Center bombings, and to commemorate the grim journey of Squad Company 1 Firefighter Stephen Siller, who had been off-duty on September 11, 2001 and planning a day of golf with his brothers when the Twin Towers were attacked.
Firefighter Siller, a 34-year-old husband and father, raced through the tunnel to assist with the rescue operation, paying for his selflessness with his life.
He was one of 10 members from the elite disaster unit at 788 Union Street, to perish in the catastrophe.
The Tunnel to Towers run was established by the Siller family to benefit the Siller Family Foundation and several other charities, including those serving families of 9/11 victims.
