Auction For American Flag In Chester Signed By 9/11 Heroes Raises $15,000

CHESTER, NJ — Will Jimeno, Frank Siller and Jon Rybkiewicz have forged a bond, with their 9/11 connection a part of it.

Jimeno was trapped under World Trade Center rubble for 13 hours after the towers collapsed on Sept. 11, 2001. Siller lost his brother New York City Firefighter Steven Siller, after he ran toward danger through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, with the Tunnel To Towers Foundation a tribute to he and others who lost their lives that day. Rybkiewicz, a United States Marine Corps veteran and owner of The Maple Shop in Chester with his wife, was part of the 26 Marine Expeditionary Unit, one of the first to face danger in Afghanistan after the terrorist attacks.

Rybkiewicz’s shop spearheaded an auction to benefit Tunnel To Towers of an American flag that had been flown at Ground Zero, as well as a commemorative patch, signed by the three friends, announcing this past Sunday after the auction concluded, that it raised $15,000 for the organization, after bidding began at $5,000.

Siller spent time with Jimeno and Rybkiewicz when he passed through Chester and Mendham on Sept. 4 for a segment of his 500-mile “Never Forget” walk for Tunnel to Towers, the three signing the items together that day.

“Frank Siller, we love you for what you do for our military and for our first responders, it’s really special,” Jimeno said.

Tunnel To Towers fundraises to build or give away homes and pay off mortgages for those who lost loved ones in the military; or to those who were first responders or veterans injured while serving.

Rybkiewicz urged people to donate to Tunnel To Towers regularly. He also encouraged people to consider purchasing Jimeno’s two books, which he’s selling in his shop on 105 Main Street, the children’s book “Immigrant, American Survivor - A Little Boy Who Grew Up To Be All Three,” co-authored with Charles Riccardi; and “Sunrise Through The Darkness - A Survivor’s Account Of Learning To Live Again Beyond 9/11,” co-authored by psychologist Michael Moats.

Chester’s Serendipity Toys & Books on 20 Main Street has Jimeno’s children’s book Immigrant, American Survivor, for sale.

The children’s book teaches kids about what happened on 9/11, including the good from that day, Jimeno said, as well as to never give up on their dreams.

As a Navy veteran himself, Sunrise Through The Darkness is intended to help veterans, fellow first responders and anyone going through difficulties, Jimeno added.

“If you survive tragedy, you deserve happiness,” he said. “It’s a long road to recovery, but it’s a road you need to take for yourself and the ones you love around you.”

Jimeno also encouraged those who participated in or watched for the auction results to make regular donations to Tunnel To Towers, stating, “It’s really helping those Americans who are really out there fighting for your freedoms, keeping you safe.”

For more information about the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, visit www.t2t.org

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.