On August 1, Frank Siller started walking. His route meticulously mapped out and with a couple thousand followers in his wake, the 68-year-old Staten Island resident laced up his sneakers (one of many pairs he packed for the 42-day jaunt) and set out on a 525-mile, six-state personal pilgrimage to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. His ultimate goal? To follow in the footsteps of the fallen.
“This isn’t only to honor my brother,” Siller said, referring to Stephen Siller, a member of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), who raced into the World Trade Center after the first plane hit 20 years ago and never returned from the rubble. “I’m doing this to honor all of the 2,977 souls we lost on that day. On this 20th anniversary, I felt we needed something meaningful that would bring us back to the unity that we all felt in those moments and months after the towers fell,” Siller said in a recent interview.
Launching his quiet trek in front of the Pentagon, Siller set off from Washington, D.C., and traveled through Maryland and West Virginia, before paying his respects at the National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, located just two miles from where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed. He then journeyed through New Jersey, before he would complete his trip in New York City on the morning of September 11.
“This is more than a walk; it’s a spiritual journey,” Siller relayed about a month before he left on his journey. “With every step I take, I’ll be thinking of my brother, and I know he’ll be with me. This journey very much aligns with our foundation’s motto: ‘While we have time, let us do good,’ taken from a Franciscan prayer. Our organization has accomplished a lot over these past two decades, but we have only scratched the surface. There is still so much good to be done.”
Helping Others
Siller is being humble. He serves as CEO of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a New York City-based organization for honoring the country’s military and first responders who continue to make the supreme sacrifice. His organization, which he founded with his siblings immediately after his brother’s death, has committed over $250 million to the families of military heroes and first responders over the past two decades.
In the wake of 9/11, Stephen Siller’s story became well-known: After finishing a night tour with Brooklyn’s Squad 1, he left the firehouse and was headed to a golf course to meet his brothers. When he got word over his scanner of a plane hitting the North Tower of the World Trade Center, he called his wife, Sally, and asked her to tell his brothers he would be late.
Siller returned to Squad 1, picked up his gear, and drove his truck to the entrance of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel. That main city artery had already been closed for security purposes, but Siller was determined to carry out his duty. So he strapped 60 pounds of gear to his back and raced on foot through the tunnel to get to the burning towers. His remains were never recovered.
Today, the foundation delivers more than 450 mortgage-free homes to gold-star families (those whose loved ones died while serving in the line of duty of military service) and catastrophically injured military veterans. Frank Siller has pledged to continue this charity in perpetuity—all in his brother’s name. This walk—and the goodwill that goes with it—is simply the culmination of two decades of philanthropy.
Officially established as a nonprofit in December 2001 by Stephen Siller’s widow and six siblings, the grassroots group started small, with the initial intention of helping children. Siller’s family would meet and toss ideas around for a golf outing, gala, or a 5-kilometer run that would raise funds for a local family in need. When a family friend suggested that the group host a road race that would symbolize the firefighter’s final heroic journey, Siller nearly collapsed with emotion.
“What my brother did on 9/11 was incredible,” Siller said. “I don’t know who else could have made such a sacrifice. Our marquee event—which essentially launched this foundation—was designed to commemorate his very last steps.”
In Stephen’s Name
The Tunnel to Towers race that bears his name, now in its 20th year, recreates Siller’s final run. More than 40,000 participants come out yearly to retrace his steps. Firefighters stand at attention and line the tunnel in Class A uniform, each one holding an American flag and a banner photo of one of the 343 FDNY members who died that day. For Frank Siller, it’s the most emotionally charged day of the year.
“When I watch the tens of thousands of participants gathering at the tunnel, see the West Point cadets running in cadence, it gets me every time,” Siller said. “More than 7,000 soldiers have died in the line of duty since 9/11 [in post-9/11 military operations]. This run is for them. This honors the sacrifice they all made.”
Tunnel to Towers has been recognized as a four-star organization by Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest and most utilized evaluator of charities, for practicing sound fiscal management, organizational efficiency, and program integrity. Keeping fundraising and administrative costs at a minimum, with only a small percentage of funds allocated to overhead expenses, the foundation’s Program Expense Ratio on average is 93 percent, meaning 93 cents out of every dollar goes directly to its programs and services. As chairman and CEO, Frank Siller is an uncompensated volunteer.
“We have been blessed with so many volunteers and so many generous donors,” Siller said. “People support our charity because our efforts are tangible—you can actually see where your money is going and who it is helping.”
The Siller family certainly identifies with the importance of such charity: Both Siller parents died at a young age, leaving 8-year-old Stephen orphaned and in the care of his six older siblings.
“It wasn’t always an easy road but Stephen grew up to be an extraordinary individual and dedicated firefighter,” Siller said. “More than most, he knew that time was precious and accomplished much in his 34 years. He had everything to live for: a great wife, five wonderful children, a devoted extended family, and friends. Stephen’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.”
More to Go
Tunnel to Towers has greatly expanded since its inception, growing to include a range of humanitarian projects. Together with the help of benefactors like Home Depot and General Motors, the organization custom-builds specially adapted mortgage-free smart homes that help injured veterans and first responders reclaim their day-to-day independence.
The foundation also pays off the mortgages for families of law enforcement officers and firefighters who were killed in the line of duty. It provides the same benefit for military widows and children.
This year, the organization also hosted a Never Forget Concert. It continues to fund Towers of Light displays at the Pentagon and Flight 93 National Memorial held on every 9/11 anniversary. The group also pledged to pay off the mortgages of first responders who have died from 9/11-related illnesses and left behind young children.
Siller is now working to broaden the foundation’s reach: He’s asking Americans to donate $11 a month in hopes of funding homes for every military member and first responder who dies or is catastrophically injured in the line of duty. His ultimate goal? To reach 1 million monthly donors.
“I truly believe that God puts us on a certain path in life,” Siller concluded. “This is my path, and I don’t take it lightly. It’s our job to help as many families as we possibly can. I do this for my brother and for all of the men and women who died on 9/11—and all of our military who have made the supreme sacrifice since that day. We are good Americans taking care of the greatest Americans of all.”
Jessica Jones-Gorman launched her career in journalism at a New York City daily newspaper more than 20 years ago. She has worked a general news beat, covered fashion, and written countless features about people who inspire and lead.
