Sun Sentinel Article, Tunnel to Towers 5K Run

This is the article from the Sun Sentinel about the Tunnel to Towers run.  This explains why the firefighters ran in full gear, and why it is called "Tunnel to Towers".  I'm so glad that I was a part of it. 

By Dieter Kurtenbach, Staff Writer

6:41 p.m. EDT, September 10, 2011

FORT LAUDERDALE— The day before the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, more than 350 South Florida firefighters ran in Saturday's inaugural Fort Lauderdale Tunnel to Towers 5K to remember and memorialize Steven Siller and the other 343 firefighters that died in the line of duty that day.


Siller, for whom the 5K is dedicated, was off duty on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, but when the news of the attacks came over his news scanner, he turned around his car and headed for Manhattan and the World Trade Center towers.

Siller was met with blocked traffic at the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel. But, instead of conceding, he grabbed his heavy gear, abandoned his truck and ran through the tunnel.

Wearing 60 pounds of gear, Siller emerged from the tunnel and continued running toward the World Trade Center towers. He was then picked up by another FDNY crew, but it is believed that he met up with his crew, Squad 1, at Ground Zero.

Neither Siller, nor the rest of his squad, survived that day, but his heroic run through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel — a run of almost exactly five kilometers — has been recreated in cities across the United States since 2002.

Fort Lauderdale hosted the event for the first time Saturday, and Miami Fire Lt. David Nunez, who helped organize the region's fire department involvement in the event, wanted to make sure that South Florida firefighters properly memorialized those who died in the attacks.

"This was all put together in less than two weeks," Nunez said. "I have brothers and sisters from fire departments from down in the Florida Keys all the way up to Palm Beach County running with us ... anything less than this would have been uncalled for [in honoring them] on the 10-year anniversary."

More than 100 firefighters ran the 5K in their full bunker gear, in homage to Siller.

"We're just trying to pay some honor, some dues, and experience what they experienced [on Sept. 11]," Andy Holtfreter of the Hollywood Fire Department said. "The fire department is a big brother and sisterhood, and the sore [of losing a firefighter] doesn't heal that easily."

Dave Vargas, of the Coral Gables Fire Department, was one of the 100-plus who ran in their gear. While running with an extra 60 pounds was a burden, he said it was the least he could do to memorialize the fallen 343.

"It was pretty brutal in the heat, but it's worthwhile thing," Vargas said. "[Firefighters] care for each other a great deal. No matter if you're a firefighter in one department or another, it doesn't matter. It's all a brotherhood and sisterhood."

The firefighers, for the most part, ran together Saturday. Greeted by bagpipes, and running under two fire-truck ladders holding up an American flag, the group finished the run in just over half an hour.

More than 3,000 runners and walkers registered for the event, and 2,222 finished the race. The top male was Jonathan Volpi, 28, who finished in 15:48. The top female finisher was Angela Cobb, 28, who finished in 18:03.

Remembering 9/11, on the 10 Year Anniversary

A pictorial salute.  No words needed.

Tunnel to Towers 5K Run

This morning I went to the Tunnel to Towers 5K run, in honor of the 10 year anniversary of September 11.  There were nearly 3,000 people in attendance.

It was a fun event, but I wasn't prepared for how emotional it would be.  When this girl (below) sang the National Anthem before the race started, it moved me to tears.  Standing up there next to those firefighters and american flags, she sang a beautiful song.  And I was right there, about 3 feet away from them.

While that may have choked me up, it didn't end there.   Some of the firefighters ran in full gear.  Which weighs about 60 pounds.   

The sight of these guys running with their gear on brought tears to my eyes.  I thought about it all day, the image burned in my mind.

It really made this day so memorable, and such a fitting way to salute the anniversary of 9/11.

Even the women ran with their gear on.  You go girl!  Such an inspiration.

I'm really glad I went to this event.  Such a nice way to remember the anniversary of 9/11 and I am glad I have some nice pictures of these fighterfighters.  We will never forget.