Firefighters and community members met this morning at the Estes Park Visitor Center Parking Garage to remember the events of Sept. 11, 2001, and honor the 343 New York City firefighters who lost their lives when the nation was attacked.
Organized by the Estes Valley Fire Protection District, the third 9/11 Stair Climb and 5K around Lake Estes was a fundraiser for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Seven teams and 64 participants climbed the equivalent of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center, raising more than $6,000.
The 5K recognizes the sacrifice of firefighter Stephen Gerard Siller, who was a member of Squad 1 in Brooklyn’s Park Slope neighborhood.
According to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation website, on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, Siller “had just finished his shift and was on his way to play golf with his brothers when he got word over his scanner of a plane hitting the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Upon hearing the news, Siller called his wife and asked her to tell his brothers he would catch up with them later. He returned to Squad 1 to get his gear. He drove his truck to the entrance of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, but it had already been closed for security purposes. Determined to carry out his duty, he strapped 60 lbs. of gear to his back and raced on foot through the tunnel to the Twin Towers, where he gave up his life while saving others.”
The teams included the EVFPD, Allenspark Fire Protection District, Estes Park Emergency Medical Services, Estes Park Functional Fitness, Xcel Energy, Code 8, and Cintas.
Mayor Gary Hall read a proclamation and shared lyrics from a song he wrote many years ago about 9-11.
My child with the smiling face, searching for her star,
My child takes the road and travels wide and wanders far.
The cannons soon will tear the sky, and you will wonder why
Your blood will flow and mix with that of those you never knew,
The sun will fall hard angry red behind the barren hills,
Vengeance will be swift and then, the harvest never comes,
My child with the smiling face, remember when there still was grace,
Remind yourself that autumn’s near, remind yourself that love is here.
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