TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – When the Twin Towers fell on September 11th, 2001, 34-year-old firefighter Stephen Siller was killed  in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City. He lost his life doing what he loved doing – and what he always wanted to do – being a firefighter and helping to save people. According to his family, he grew up under the guiding philosophy of St. Francis of Assisi and the encouraging and inspirational phrase “while we have time, let us do good.”

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Turning that tragedy into something positive to honor his brother Stephen and others who died that day is Frank Siller. Using the same St. Francis of Assisi philosophy as his sibling, Frank became the chairman and CEO of the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation (T2T) in 2003. Frank is on the board of directors with his brother, George, and takes no salary even though he dedicates 50+ hours a week to the organization. In their mission statement on the T2T tax forms, it says, “To honor the sacrifice of firefighter Stephen Siller who laid down his life to save others on September 11, 2001. We also honor our military and first responders who continue to make the supreme sacrifice of life and limb for our country.”

T2T is a non-profit organization that helps America’s heroes and their families with their many programs that include: building specially-adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders; paying off the mortgage for families with young children left behind when a firefighter or police officer is killed in the line of duty; providing mortgage free homes to families whose loved ones have died as a result of 9/11 related illnesses from their exposure during recovery work in the aftermath of 9/11; providing mortgage free homes for families with young children who are left behind when a service member dies in the line of duty; assisting families of injured or fallen first responders with specific immediate needs and more. They are also committed to eradicating veteran homelessness and helping America to never forget September 11, 2001.

The foundation was started shortly after Stephen’s death when after Frank suggested to his family that they start a foundation to honor what Stephen and the others who died on 9/11. His family agreed and that was the start of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation and their 5K Run & Walk NYC, the foundation’s signature event and one of the top 5K events in the country with over 40,000 people participating every year.

T2T has many other fundraisers during the year including additional runs and golf outings. One of their most popular fundraisers is the annual T2Tclimb at the Freedom Tower which took place in June. They had one thousand participants this year and raised $1 million for the foundation. At the event, Frank talked with the New York Post about the rescue of Americans on 9/11 by heroes like his brother, Stephen. He said, “They’re going up the stairs and everyone else is going down and outside the building. It was the greatest rescue effort ever in America. Saved over 25,000 lives, but we lost so many great heroes that day and we’re here to honor those heroes and never forget.”

To date, T2T has raised more than $500 million in support of America’s heroes. Because of that support, they have been able to provide more than 1,000 montage-free homes that have been delivered or are in progress. They do it with integrity, accountability and transparency and with 95¢ of every dollar donated going directly to their many programs.

Michigan News Source reached out to Tunnel for Towers to ask about the Michigan families that they have helped over the years and they responded to our inquiry with the names of four heroes and their families.

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In June of 2016, US Army SSG Ben Eberle received a smart home from T2T. Eberle lives in Alpena, is married and has two children. On November 19, 2011, Army Staff Sergeant Eberle and his unit, the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, were conducting route clearance patrol in Afghanistan when SSG Eberle dismounted and stepped on an IED. The explosion resulted in him losing both legs above the knee, and his right hand. He also suffered a severe right shoulder injury. The medical expertise of a Special Forces’ soldier from the Czech Republic saved SSG Eberle’s life.

Having this specially adapted home is having a tremendous impact on SSG Eberle’s ability to be the all-around family man that he is, and is providing a far less stressful life for him and his family.

In 2020, Bloomfield Hills Police Officer Steven Splan’s family had their mortgage paid off by T2T. On August 2, 2020, Sergeant Steven Splan of the Bloomfield Hills Police Department was on fire duty and had assisted in removing a tree that was blocking a roadway. Later in the evening, while on duty, Sergeant Splan went on a meal break in the public safety building. He suffered an apparent heart attack and was found unresponsive in the department kitchen. The 46-year-old started his public safety career with the Troy Fire Department right out of high school, from 1992 until 2005. He then joined the Bloomfield Hills Department of Public Safety where he served his community for 15 years. Steven is survived by his wife Sara Ann, and his four children, Megan, Emily, Elizabeth, and Meredith.

In 2021, Kalamazoo Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Proxmire’s family also had their mortgage paid off by T2T. Deputy Proxmire is a fallen first responder who died in the line of duty on August 15, 2021 from injuries received from gunshot wounds during a high-speed chase. He was taken to the hospital but he died the next day. He had served with the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office for nine years and was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He is survived by his wife, Roanna, and their four children.

Also in 2021, the family of fall first responder, Detroit Police Officer Myron Anthony Jarrett, had their montage paid off by T2T. Officer Jarrett was killed in the line of duty on October 28, 2016 when he was fatally struck by a hit-and-run driver while assisting other officers during a traffic stop. Jarrett had served in the Detroit Police Department since Nov. 21, 2008 and is survived by his wife, Sacha, and his three children.