Augusta University, City of Augusta hold annual 9/11 remembrance ceremony

Augusta University and the City of Augusta remembered the 9/11 victims with the ninth annual memorial and 5K run for the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

The event was held Saturday, Sept. 6, 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. 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. Several public safety agencies from Columbia and Richmond counties also participated in the ceremony.

Kid running with adults — Click to see more photos from the Sept. 6 event.

Man in a wheelchair getting cheered on by female spectators — Click to see more photos from the Sept. 6 event.

“It continues to be a great privilege for my wife, Cornelia, and I to be able to serve the community and play a small role in providing the opportunity for us all to honor our commitment to never forget,” said John Ryan, emergency manager at Augusta University and coordinator for AU’s Critical Event Preparedness and Response, or CEPaR. “The collaboration among Augusta University, the City of Augusta and all of the partners that come together to make this event a reality is incredible.”

A paper with Stephen Siller at the top and a photo of a man in uniform, with description of who he was

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.

Among the programs that benefit from the foundation is Building for America’s Bravest, which builds smart homes for injured U.S. service members.