Tunnel To Towers 9/11 Walk Heads Through Chester, Mendham

CHESTER, NJ — Frank Siller is steps closer to his final destination of Ground Zero for the “Never Forget Walk,” after the Tunnel to Towers Foundation walk passed through both Chester and Mendham during the Labor Day weekend.

Siller founded the Tunnel to Towers Foundation in memory of all of the heroes lost on Sept. 11, 2001, including his brother, Firefighter Stephen Siller. Siller, who was finishing up his shift with Brooklyn Squad 1 and was heading out to golf with his siblings that day, changed plans and went back to his station after he learned that a plane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

Unable to drive through Brooklyn’s Battery Tunnel after it was shut down after the terrorist attacks, Siller instead became known for jumping off of the engine with his 60 pounds of gear, then running through the tunnel toward the Towers.

While in Chester, both the police and volunteer fire departments escorted Frank Siller through town this past Saturday, posing with him for pictures, along with an unidentified retired New York City firefighter.

As he had in Chester, Siller additionally walked through Mendham Borough, with a police and fire escort, stopping to meet first responders and pose for photos with them.

On the Friday heading into Labor Day weekend, Siller had walked through neighboring communities, including Long Valley.

This past Sunday in Morristown, he took part in a parade as part of the Never Forget Walk remembrances.

Siller - the CEO of the foundation - is making a 500-mile trek that takes him through six states from Arlington Fire Station 5 near Washington D.C., which will conclude at Ground Zero. The non-profit group raises monies for various programs, including "Smart Home Program," which constructs mortgage-free homes for injured first-responders and veterans. There's also the "Fallen First Responder Home Program," that helps to pay off mortgages for families who lost their loved ones in the line of duty. "The Gold Star Family Home Program" is another one, that gives mortgage-free homes to spouses of those who died in their military service, who have small children.

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.