Commemorating the 6th Anniversary of the Central New York Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk

Assembly Resolution No. 1544

BY: M. of A. Buttenschon

        COMMEMORATING  the  6th Anniversary of the Central
        New York Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk

  WHEREAS, Since the tragic events on September 11, 2001,  the  memory
of  all  the  lives  lost  has not been forgotten in the hearts of their
families, friends, and everyone living in the State of New York; and

  WHEREAS, Among those lost in the tragic  events  of  that  day  were
first  responders who bravely and selflessly raced to the towers to save
as many people as they could even if it meant losing  their  own  lives;
and

  WHEREAS,  It is the sense of the Legislative Body to commemorate the
6th Anniversary of the Central New York Tunnel to Towers 5K Run  &  Walk
to  be  held  on  Sunday,  August 16, 2026, at the New York State Office
Building in Utica, New York; and

  WHEREAS, Born from the tragedy of the September  11th  attacks,  the
Tunnel  to  Towers  Foundation  was  created  to  carry on the legacy of
courage and heroism that the first responders embodied; and

  WHEREAS, The  initial  run  in  New  York  City  honored  the  final
footsteps  of  Stephen  Siller, a New York City firefighter who lost his
life on September 11, 2001; now, it honors all fallen  first  responders
across the State; and

  WHEREAS, On September 11, 2001, Stephen Siller had just finished his
shift and was on his way to play golf with his brothers when he got word
that  the  first  plane  hit  the North Tower of the World Trade Center,
making him return to his assigned Squad 1 in Brooklyn; and

  WHEREAS, Stephen Siller drove  his  truck  to  the  Brooklyn-Battery
Tunnel  to  find it was closed; however, driven by his duty and courage,
he strapped on 60 pounds of gear and ran two miles on foot  through  the
tunnel to the Towers where he gave his life to safe others; and

  WHEREAS,  Now,  for  the  past  six  years,  the  Tunnel  to  Towers
Foundation of Central New York has held the Central New York  5k  Run  &
Walk  as  an  annual event that honors and supports first responders and
military service members; and

  WHEREAS, What started in New York City to honor one  of  the  fallen
heroes  of  9/11  has  now  inspired  70  events  throughout  the State,
including the Tunnel to Towers Foundation's Central New York  5k  Run  &
Walk in Utica, with everyone from first responders running in their gear
to civilians running in solidarity; and

  WHEREAS,  This  5K  run  is  a  remembrance for all the heroic first
responders who made the ultimate sacrifice on September 11th  and  every
day that has since followed; and

  WHEREAS,  Over  the  six years of this event, more people of Central
New York have come together and participated in the Tunnel to Towers  5k

Run  &  Walk,  contributing  directly  to  the ongoing support for first
responders and military heroes; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the custom of this Legislative Body that events of
such significance should be  acknowledged  and  celebrated  by  all  the
citizens of this great State of New York; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 6th Anniversary of the Central New York Tunnel to Towers
5K Run & Walk; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.