As the September 11 date filled our calendars this past Sunday it marked 21 years since the utter devastation this country was hit with after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The deaths from the World Trade Towers, Pentagon, and Flight 93 totaled 2,977 and among them 415 firefighters, EMTs, and law enforcement first responders. These attacks have left a scar on our country that is still edged deep over two decades later, and will be for the the unforeseeable future.
As we take the time to mourn over the passing of this grim anniversary, many Americans have since used the day to pay their respects and give back to the families of those individuals who perished in the attacks. Here in Estes Park, community members used the day to take part in the town’s first-ever fundraising Tunnel to Towers 5K and stair climb events in remembrance of those first responders who selflessly gave their lives at the World Trade Center during their pursuit to save others.
Estes Valley Fire Protection District Chief David Wolf and Estes Park Economic Development Corporation CEO Adam Shake worked together to organize the event, which yielded 85 participants including first responders from Loveland, Allens Park, Big Elk, Pinewood Springs and several other local departments.
The 5K took place in downtown Estes and started at 6:46 a.m. which transfers to 8:46 a.m. ET, and symbolizes the minute the first plane struck the North World Trade Tower.
This Tunnel to Towers run is meant to pay homage to fallen FDNY firefighter Stephen G. Siller. As Chief Wolf told the story, Siller was driving home from his shift at Brooklyn’s Squad 1 Company when news came over his scanner of the North World Trade Tower being struck. Siller immediately turned around and headed for his station to give help but was halted at the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel entrance after police closed it due to the crash. Not to be deterred from his mission, he left his vehicle where it sat, strapped on his 60 pounds of bunker gear, and made the two-mile run to the towers. Siller ultimately lost his life in his attempt to save others that day, but his sacrifice has been carried on by this 5K run.
“The 5K is specifically due to some of the members, starting with Siller, who were so committed to getting there to help, they strapped on all their gear and ran,” Wolf said. “There are a number of those stories throughout the 415 responders that died between EMS, law enforcement, and firefighter members and every one of them is incredible.”
Following the run, the stair climb was held at the Estes Park Visitor Center Parking Garage. This event is held in 25 to 30 other states according to Wolf and was initially started in Denver by the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation in 2005.
“Part of the reason we wanted to bring the climb to Estes was to make it more of a community event,” Wolf explained. “A number of us have gone down to Red Rocks for their stair climb, but this makes it easier for local first responders to take part in.”
The event started at 8:46 a.m. local time with the playing of a bagpipe tribute, again to signify the attack on the first tower. The climb totaled 110 stories to represent the number of floors in the Twin Towers, which meant the Estes Park participants had to course through the three-story parking garage a total of 36 times.
As individuals climbed, they wore badges upon their clothing showing some of the 343 FDNY firefighters who lost their lives at the trade center, and upon finishing emblematically fulfilled the fallen members’ heroic attempts at save others.
Once the event concluded, Wolf expressed that this climb not only pays respect to those fallen first responders, but to all those who continue to serve our nation today.
“This year my five and eight-year-old sons got to do the climb for the first time, and to be able to teach them about why we do this climb, why we do any event like this is important,” Wolf said. “Remembering not just those who we lost on 9/11 and mourning them, but also remembering that on September 12, 1.1 million firefighters went back to work. That is part of what we want people to remember that of course September 11 was a tragic day and that there are still people who continue to flinch forward and do that good work today.”
All proceeds generated from the fundraiser contribute to programs provided by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to support the families of local fallen firefighters and the FDNY Counseling Services Unit.
For those who missed the event, but would still like to donate, you can do so by visiting: nfff.akaraisin.com/ui/estespark