By Paul Lomax
Special to DNAinfo
LOWER MANHATTAN — On Sept. 11th, 2001, firefighter Stephen Siller ran through the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel — carrying 75 pounds of gear — to help rescue people from the burning Twin Towers.
He did not to return, becoming one of 11 firefighters from the FDNY's Squad 1 in Brooklyn who died that day.
Ten years later, over 25,000 runners from all over the world gathered Sunday to run through the same tunnel.
But instead of going into the unknown, they followed in the footsteps of the fallen hero to honor his bravery and to commemorate the ultimate sacrifice Siller paid on 9/11 in the 10th Annual Tunnel to Towers Run.
"This is a very emotional day. It's the tenth anniversary of 9/11," FDNY Commissioner Salvatore Cassano told DNAinfo.com before the start of the run. "People have come from all over the world since 2001 and they have helped to bring us together again as a city and a nation. From one family's tragedy springs hope for us all."
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, comedian Dennis Miller and actors Gary Sinise and John Turturro joined the Siller family to see men, women and children of all ages run this year's race that retraces as closely as possible the last steps of the firefighter and father of five.
The starting line in Red Hook, Brooklyn, was awash with American flags, banners and flanked by cadets from the U.S. Military Academy as well as military personnel in full uniform.
War veterans and quadruple amputees from Iraq and Afghanistan also stood proud under the warm morning sunshine as the air stilled during the National Anthem.
Julie Roberts, 46, who traveled from New Mexico with her husband, Bryan Roberts, 46, an Army veteran, helped establish the Blue Star Mothers of America in Albuquerque, an organization for those with children in the military.
"So far we have held 35 shadow runs on behalf of our first responders from 9/11, and have raised thousands of dollars to help whoever is in need," she said.
Her husband Bryan added: "It's the least we could do for the enormous sacrifice they all made for all of us that day and ever since."
The race began at the entrance to the tunnel in Brooklyn, where Siller, on his day off, had headed after hearing that American Airlines Flight 11 smashed into the North Tower. Finding the tunnel closed, he jumped out of his truck, strapped on his gear and sprinted towards the Twin Towers.
After exiting the Brooklyn-Battery tunnel, the runners continued onto West Street, followed by West Thames Street, and then Liberty Street until they reached the finish line on Vesey Street, directly across from Ground Zero, where 343 FDNY firefighters, 23 NYPD Police Officers and 37 Port Authority Police Officers were among the 2,753 who lost their lives that fateful day.
Nothing is known about Siller's fate, but his family firmly believes that he attempted to meet up with Squad 1 and raced into the Towers to do what he did best: save lives and comfort survivors.
"This is my sixth time over and it feels good to do this every year," said British firefighter Ian Devine, 46, of London, after the race. "It's for a great cause and it's great to be a small cog in a worldwide machine designed to help people whenever they need it."
Started in 2002, by the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, the annual run honors the legacy of the fallen hero and works had-in-hand with Stephen's House of New York, which offers support to local, orphaned children of service personnel killed-in-action.
Additionally, the foundation's "LET US DO GOOD," programs support the work of Weill-Cornell Burn Center in New York and burn centers around the country.
With Tom Liddy
