Tunnel to Towers Honors 25th Anniversary of 9/11 with Steel Tour

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation is commemorating the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks by bringing a piece of history across America. A 21-foot steel beam from the South Tower of the World Trade Center is traveling on the Steel Across America tour, reaching out to educate younger generations about the significant events of 9/11. Tunnel to Towers founder Frank Siller shared the emotional impact of the tour with citizens who have interacted with the 17,000-pound beam.

The steel beam, over 16,900 pounds in weight, is making stops along the East Coast. Scheduled stops include Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., and New York City through September 11. Among these stops is a featured presentation at Fenway Park in Boston during a baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners. It will also appear at the Massachusetts Fallen Heroes Memorial.

The beam recently arrived at Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota as part of its journey. From there, it headed to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where Lt. Gen. James B. Bartholomees III connected the courage of first responders on 9/11 with Americans who have since served the nation.

Activities at West Point included a color guard, pipe and drum procession, and participation from members of the NYPD, FDNY, and Port Authority Police Department. The ceremony featured the national anthem, an invocation, and a blessing of the steel, alongside a moment of reflection to the tune of “Amazing Grace.”

Frank Siller, reflecting on the legacy of his brother, Stephen Siller, an FDNY firefighter who perished on 9/11, recounted his brother’s bravery and unwavering sense of duty. “Twenty-five years ago, my brother Stephen strapped on 60 pounds of gear and ran through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel into danger,” Siller said. These values, he emphasized, are shared by West Point cadets and first responders nationwide.

The tour underscores the ongoing commitment of Tunnel to Towers to honor the sacrifice of 9/11 heroes while ensuring their legacy endures.