Race honors those who made 'ultimate sacrifice' on 9/11

This article was originally posted on the official NEWSDAY website on September 29, 2019 , written by Ted Phillips (ted.phillips@newsday.com @tedephillips) we are simply sharing it raise awareness among our 9/11 Community.

“Tens of thousands of runners — some in shorts, some wearing firefighter helmets — emerged from the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel connecting lower Manhattan with Brooklyn Sunday in remembrance of the sacrifices made by first responders at the World Trade Center 18 years ago.

For some dressed in full firefighter gear, the 3.2-mile annual Tunnel to Towers race was a chance to retrace the steps of Stephen Siller, a New York City firefighter and former Rockville Centre resident, who ran through the tunnel on Sept. 11, 2001, to the towers wearing 60 pounds of equipment. He died that day.

“We’re a little dirty, we’re a little sweaty, but you gotta support the brothers,” Lt. Dan Bennett, 36, a volunteer firefighter from Croton-on-Hudson, said after passing the finish line. Bennett came with about 15 firefighters from Westchester and New Jersey who wore their gear because that’s what Siller did.

“He gave his life to save others,” Bennett said. “It’s very important to us.”

About 30,000 people participated in the annual event that began in 2002, organizers said. The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation raises money to support injured service members and the families of fallen first responders and Gold Star families — families of those killed in military service…”