**TITLE:** Honoring American Heroes: Tunnel to Towers 5K Gathers Thousands
**SAPO:** The 23rd annual Tunnel to Towers 5K Run and Walk brought together over 40,000 participants to honor, remember, and celebrate fallen American military service members and first-responders.
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New York City's streets were filled with uniformed officers on Sunday for the 23rd annual Tunnel to Towers 5K Run and Walk. The event symbolized the final footsteps of fallen FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller, who rushed from the Battery Tunnel to the Twin Towers on 9/11. This year's event drew more than 40,000 people, a testament to the overwhelming support for the cause.
The idea for the run was sparked by a suggestion from Billy Codd, a friend of Stephen Siller. Codd proposed recreating Siller's last steps, running through the tunnel to the towers as a tribute to his heroism. The inaugural event drew about 1,000 participants, which has since grown exponentially over the past two decades.
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Stephen Siller, Jr., the son of the late firefighter, expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support during the event. "It's a beautiful thing," he said. "I feel his presence in my life every day. Because of him, we're able to help so many people, and I'm so grateful for what we were able to make out of his loss."
Frank Siller, CEO of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, emphasized that the event not only honored those who made sacrifices on 9/11 but also extended respect to the countless military personnel lost in the war on terror and the police officers, firefighters, and other first-responders who die in the line of duty each year.
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"We made a promise that we're going to take care of every single one of them and their families that are left behind, forever," said Siller. Tunnel to Towers is a charitable organization that provides mortgage-free homes to Gold Star families and families of fallen first-responders.
Siller expressed his admiration for the resilience of families coping with loss. "They're all heroes," he said. "They're all going through difficult times, but they all have a positive attitude and they're all trying to make the best of their lives. They're a great inspiration to all of us."
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The 5K also celebrated the lives of fallen law enforcement officers, including Sergeant Jason DaCruz of the Stratford Police Department in Connecticut and four Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers in North Carolina. Tunnel to Towers has recently paid off their family mortgages.
Siller highlighted the importance of supporting communities affected by tragedy. "We're here to help families that have lost loved ones," he said. "We're here to help communities that have been devastated by disasters. We're here to help rebuild America, one step at a time."
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The Tunnel to Towers 5K has garnered significant support from celebrities, athletes, and the wider community. This year, Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports and UFC President Dana White joined forces to raise funds for the fallen New York City Police Officer Timothy Haskell's family.
The 5K serves as a powerful symbol of unity and gratitude for the sacrifices made by American heroes. The event provides a platform to honor their memory, support their families, and inspire future generations to serve their communities with courage and compassion.
