Hays Post

Despite the time and distance that separates Hays and the events in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001, the legacy of the events that occurred remain fresh for many. But with tragedy comes honor, and last Thursday at Carpet One Floor and Home, 113 E. 13th, through the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a small piece of the tragic day was brought to Hays.

Vincent Doherty, former Fire Department of New York Captain, visited with area residents sharing the legacy of one hero of that tragic day and the foundation that was born from his tragic death and presented Carpet One with a piece of steel from the World Trade Center site in recognition to the company’s contributions to the Siller Foundation.

Doherty shared with the audience who Siller was and the culture of service he was raised in that led him to join the NYFD and the heroic effort he made on 9/11 to help others.

“On September 11, 2001, Stephen had just gotten off the late shift at Squad 1, Park Slope, Brooklyn. He was on his way to play golf with his brothers when his scanner told of the first plane hitting the Twin Towers. When he heard the news, Stephen called his wife Sally and asked her to tell his brothers he would catch up with them later, and then returned to Squad 1 to get his gear,” according to the foundation’s website.

“Stephen drove his truck to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, but it was already closed. So he strapped 60 pounds of gear to his back, rushed on foot through gridlocked traffic and ran from the Tunnel to the Towers, where he gave up his life while saving others.”

Following the tragedy friends and family of Siller’s worked to find a way to remember him and use his memory to do good and, with contributions from business such as Carpet One, the organization works to serve others, in the vein of service that Siller worked for during his life.

The foundation began with a memorial run, but quickly morphed into much more.

“The organization helped establish the Tunnel to Towers Run, 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. Participants of the Tunnel To Towers Run retrace the final footsteps of heroic Stephen Siller from the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to the World Trade Center site,” according to the foundation.

The run quickly turned into an effort to help veterans as a part of the same brotherhood of Americans that provide service to others.

“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 to provide a specially adaptive home for the first ever quadruple amputee to survive, Army Specialist Brendan Marrocco. By the end of 2013, BFAB has the goal to have completed or broken ground on 23 Smart Homes for veterans across the country.”

Carpet One, is an active partner with the foundation, which boasts over a 90 percent rate of funds going directly to charitable activities, with less than 5 percent going toward administration costs.

For more information on the foundation visit their website at tunnel2towers.org.