AU, City of Augusta reflect on 10th annual 9/11 remembrance ceremony

The memory and magnitude of Sept. 11, 2001 resonates as much now as it did when the World Trade Center was attacked 25 years ago.

“I think the reason is that it was such an extraordinarily impactful day for all of us, one that I pray we never have to live through again,” said John Ryan, program manager for the Office of Critical Event Preparedness & Response (CEPaR) at Augusta University. “Everyone who was alive on that fateful day remembers where they were, what they were doing and how it felt.”

Augusta University and the City of Augusta remembered the 9/11 victims with the 10th annual memorial and 5K run for the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation. The event was held Sept. 5 at the D. Douglas Barnard, Jr. Amphitheater on the Summerville Campus.

Lora Huff sang the national anthem and the John Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School jazz band performed patriotic numbers. Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson was among the city officials present to address those in attendance.

Richmond County Marshal’s Office Corporal Joe Canavan was a first responder in New York on 9/11 and said he will never forget the events of that day and the weeks that followed.

“If you would have asked every cop and every fireman and every EMS worker running into those buildings, they’re going to fall … every single one of them would have done the same thing,” Canavan said. “We still would have gone. We still would have showed up. And it is important to know that the families are not forgotten. Because it’s the families now that are still living with it 25 years later. I’m still living with it 25 years later. You know, there are kids whose mothers and fathers didn’t come home. They just went to work that day. And if we forget them, then that’s the real tragedy. We can’t forget the families that are left behind. We can’t.”

The Augusta Richmond County Fire Department, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and AU ROTC honor guards presented the colors and performed a ceremonial bell ringing at 8:46 a.m., the same time as when the first plane struck the North Tower.

Several public safety agencies from Columbia and Richmond counties also participated in the ceremony. Members of Augusta Drum & Pipe performed Amazing Grace at 9:03 to mark the time the second plane struck the South Tower.

This is the eighth year AU and the city have collaborated for this remembrance ceremony on the Summerville Campus. Ryan, who was also coordinator for the memorial and run, said during the years he has been involved with Tunnel to Towers, the event has grown from a small neighborhood 5K with about 40 participants to the hundreds who gathered on Sept. 5.

“It is very nice to be able to provide an event each year where community members who desire to honor their commitment to #neverforget, can do just that,” Ryan said. “The continued effort to put the event on by all involved is noteworthy, and we are very thankful for those that care enough to get and stay involved. It means the world.”

Almost 3,000 people died on 9/11: 2,606 civilians, 343 FDNY firefighters, 72 law enforcement officers and 55 military personnel as well as the 19 hijackers. Among the lasting impacts the attacks had on the United States included the creation of the Department of Homeland Security in November 2002 and the Transportation Security Administration to increase security measures for air travel.

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum, which opened on the original World Trade Center site in May 2014, tells the day’s story through media, narratives and monumental and authentic artifacts.

Proceeds from the 5K race went toward the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation. The organization’s mission is to honor and support first responders and the military and is dedicated to the memory of Siller, a fallen firefighter and father of five who was off duty when the first plane struck. He drove to his Brooklyn fire station to retrieve his gear after hearing about the crash on the scanner.

Siller made his way toward the World Trade Center but discovered the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel was blocked due to security reasons. Determined, he strapped about 60 pounds of gear to his back and ran about 3 miles to the Twin Towers. After his death, his six siblings established the foundation in his honor.

Members of AU’s ROTC ran the race in full military gear carrying 23 pound packs on their pack to honor Siller.

Among the programs that benefit from the foundation is Building for America’s Bravest, which builds smart homes for injured U.S. service members, In the Line of Duty Programs, Homeless Veteran initiatives, the 9/11 Institute and the Mae and George Siller Scholarship Program.

Ryan spoke of the importance of passing along the knowledge to the younger generations who were born after 9/11 and has one hope for everyone moving forward.

“I hope that our community can continue to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice on 9/11 by honoring our commitment to never forget.”