Over the next 42 days, the founder of a 9/11 commemoration organization plans to make a 500-mile walk from DC to New York City as the nation turns 20 years since the terrorist attack.
Frank Siller founded the Foundation Tunnel to Towers after his and his family’s lives changed after his brother’s death in the attacks.
“I’ll be thinking of my brother, a New York City firefighter who gave his life on September 11,” Siller said of his trip.
He named the foundation after the route his brother took through the Brooklyn Battery tunnel to the towers. Siller’s brother was among 759 first responders who died as a result of the attack, part of the high death toll.
Siller began his journey Sunday and will make stops at the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
During the 20 years that he has walked to remember, he has never been alone. On Sunday, he was joined by hundreds of other participants who had felt the similar grief of the loss of a loved one, including Mecca Nelson and her daughter.
They remember Sergeant Mario Nelson, who was killed in action while in the military.
Mecca Nelson said Mario had immigrated from Haiti, worked on the pile after the towers collapsed, and “after 9/11 happened, he said, ‘I have to help my country.”
After his death, the foundation Tunnel to Towers paid off Nelson’s mortgage. They have provided more than $ 250 million of such support to survivors, injured service members and their families.
“That’s one of the reasons I’m doing this, just to make sure the stories are being told,” Siller said.
Survivors and service members include local families residing in places like Loudoun County.
“Well, look around and I can tell you all the activity and all the people that are involved here. It just shows you how much we appreciate the work you are doing, “said Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman.
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