The McDonough chapter of Tunnel to Towers, a foundation dedicated to helping the families of first responders and military personnel who have died or been seriously injured in the line of duty, will host a 5K “walk and run” event at 9 a.m. Sept. 10 at McDonough Square.
The McDonough chapter of Tunnel to Towers is the only Atlanta area chapter of the foundation.
“Since 9/11, we have been helping America’s heroes by providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children and by building custom-designed smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders,” foundation officials said.
The organization was able to pay off the mortgage of Paramhans Desai, a Henry County Police Department officer killed in the line of duty in 2021, said Nancy Tahaney, event director.
Tahaney was a New York City paramedic during the World Trade Center attacks and was a 9/11 first responder. She has lived in McDonough for 16 years.
“Twenty-one years ago, the foundation was founded to remember and honor the sacrifice of all who perished on Sept. 11 and to turn tragedy into a mission of doing good,” Tahaney said. “The Tunnel to Towers Foundation is proud of its accomplishments, including committing more than $250 million in support of our nation’s greatest heroes and their families.”
The foundation’s name refers to the story of Stephen Siller, a firefighter from Brooklyn who lost his life on Sept. 11, 2001, according to the foundation’s website.
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Siller was off duty and on his way to play a round of golf with his brothers when he heard about the attacks on the radio. After hearing the news, he canceled his plans and rerouted to Manhattan to help with rescue efforts at the Twin Towers.
On the way, Siller’s vehicle was halted at the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, which had been closed because of security concerns following the attacks. Undaunted, Siller strapped 60 pounds of firefighting gear to his body and traveled through the tunnel to the WTC on foot.
“Every momentous event, even a tragedy, has its symbolic figures. Sept. 11 was no different; it just had a few more of them…None bigger than Stephen Siller, whose stature only grows with time as New Yorkers and people from around the world follow in his footsteps,” wrote Jay Price, a family friend of the Siller family.
Siller is survived by his wife and five children.
“(Siller’s) life and heroic death serve as a reminder to us all to live life to the fullest and to spend our time here on earth doing good-this is his legacy,” foundation officials said.
Visit McDonough@t2t.org to sign up for the event.
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