Hundreds of Long Islanders gathered around a 26-foot steel beam from the former World Trade Center at the LT Michael P. Murphy Navy SEAL Museum in West Sayville on Monday to honor and remember the thousands of lives lost on 9/11 during a ceremony hosted by the Tunnels to Towers Foundation.
The gathering was part of the non-profit organization’s Steel Across America tour, in which Tunnels to Towers will visit 35 cities across the country over four months to educate Americans about the Sept. 11 attacks while displaying the 16,000 lb. steel beam recovered from the World Trade Center’s South Tower in the months after 9/11.
“This piece of steel recovered from the rubble of the World Trade Center will go across this country for one reason and one reason only, to make sure Americans never forget,” said Frank Siller, chairman and CEO of the Tunnels to Towers Foundation.
Siller’s younger brother, Stephen Siller, was a New York City Fire Department firefighter who died on Sept. 11 after trekking on foot through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel with full gear on his back towards the burning Twin Towers to meet with members of his squad who arrived earlier.
The Tunnels to Towers Foundation is named in honor of the journey Siller made to save people in his final moments, and the organization hosts an annual run that retraces the steps he took that day.
The Steel Across America Tour started on May 2 and made its first stop outside New York City at the LT Michael P. Murphy Museum on May 4.
Chris Wyllie, executive director of the LT Michael P. Murphy Navy SEAL Museum, said thousands of young people like Michael Murphy, who was in Navy SEAL training at the time, saw the attacks unfold and became inspired to serve their country, and that their sacrifices should also never be forgotten.
“That generation answered our nation’s call,” Wyillie said. “We owe them more than gratitude. We owe them remembrance, understanding and a commitment to carry forward the values they defended.”
Stephen Siller’s son, Stephen Siller Jr., presented Michael Murphy’s family with a custom-built steel American Flag featuring a depiction of the Twin Towers in the New York City skyline, created from World Trade Center steel.
As the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks approaches, Stephen Siller Jr., who was only nine months old when his father was killed, said that along with remembering those who died, he wants Americans to remember the feelings of unity and looking out for one another that followed the tragedy.
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