On Sunday, September 25th, 8 members of the Croton Fire Department participated in the Firefighter Stephen Siller “Tunnel to Towers” Run. Led by 2nd Lieutenant Thomas Mosler of Chemical Engine, the team - consisting of Firefighters Danny Bennett, John Donnelly, Ben Goldsmith, and Jake Tuttle (all of Chemical Engine), in addition to Firefighter Art Roosa III, PAF Jake Dominello and PAF Andrew Liebler (of Washington Engine) - donned their full turnout gear and ran the 15th Annual 5K Race to pay tribute to the supreme sacrifice that Firefighter Siller made at the World Trade Center.

On September 10, 2001, Firefighter Siller worked an overnight shift at Squad 1, located in Brooklyn. The following morning, he was on his way to meet his brothers to play golf when the news of the World Trade Center attack came across his radio. Upon hearing the news, he changed his course and took his turnout gear instead of his golf clubs; when he discovered that traffic was halted at the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, he donned 60 pounds of fire fighting gear and ran through the tunnel to meet the rest of his Squad.

The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which sponsors the annual event, continues Firefighter Siller’s legacy by providing assistance to our nation’s first responders and service members. Building for America’s Bravest, a program of the Foundation, constructs specially adapted smart homes for our most catastrophically injured service members. In January 2015, the Foundation also raised over one million dollars to fully pay off the mortgages for the families of slain NYPD Officers Wenjian Liu and Luis Ramos.

Our group of firefighters - including some from Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown and Millwood - raised over $3,700.00 for the cause, and crossed the finish line all around 40 minutes’ time. Needless to say, we are extremely proud of our members for their efforts, and are proud to honor a true American Hero.

For more information, please visit http://tunnel2towers.org