SPANISH FORT, Ala.—USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park will not only host a sunrise remembrance service on Sept. 11 but also serve as the starting point for the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers 5K Run and Fun Run.

The announcement – made exactly two months before the historic 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York  City and the Pentagon – featured Frank Siller, the brother of famed New York City firefighter Stephen Siller who gave his life rescuing others as the towers crumbled around him and the hundreds of other first responders.

The annual 5K began as a tribute to Stephen Siller and the other 342 firefighters who perished that day, and Mobile is one of more than 50 cities nationwide joining the movement as the 10th anniversary of the terror attacks nears.

The July 11 announcement was made in Battleship Memorial Park’s Alabama Pavilion, where Frank Siller stood flanked by six members of the New York City Fire Department and was joined by members of every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.

“Stephen Siller really embodies the American spirit in as much as he dropped what he was doing to join an effort that took his life,” said Bill Tunnel, the park’s executive director.

An entire weekend of remembrance activities will begin Sept. 9 with a special installment of LoDa Art Walk in downtown Mobile; continue Sept. 10 with a “Red, White and Brews” pub crawl; and culminate Sept. 11 with the Battleship Memorial Park sunrise service, the Tunnel to Towers run, the debuting of national traveling art exhibit at the Museum of Mobile and a flag retirement ceremony hosted by area Boy Scout troops. The sunrise service is intended to recognize the 127 Alabama military personnel who have died as a result of the events of Sept. 11, 2001.

For the complete story see the July 13 edition of The Bulletin.