Dacula Remembers 9/11
By Shelby Jack – Miss Junior Dacula 2011
9-11 firefighters raising U.S. flag
Do you actually remember where you were on September 11, 2001? I remember that day clearly. I was sitting at the green table at Dacula Elementary School, in Mrs. Eddleman’s second grade class. Our principal came over the intercom to tell our teachers to turn on the news to see what had happened. As a second grader news like this doesn’t really affect you that much.
Five years later I heard of a firefighter’s story, a man that not only went the extra mile but the extra two. His name was Stephen Siller. Every hero has his or her struggle; Stephen’s was losing both of his parents at the age of ten. But his life allowed him to grow into an extraordinary individual. Stephen was heading home one day after the late shift at Squad 1. He was heading to play a round of golf with his brothers when the scanner in his truck told him of the first plane hitting the towers. He called his wife, Sally, to let her know he would be late.
Stephen turned his truck around and headed back to his Squad, not knowing his company had already left. He grabbed his gear and jumped back in his truck. He finally made his way to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel where he found it they closed it due to traffic so Stephen strapped on 60 pounds of gear and started running through the tunnel that was two miles to the towers, knowing he had a wife and five kids back at home.
Stephen died saving lives that day. Stephen’s life and heroic death can serve as a reminder to us all to go the extra mile, or in Stephen’s case the extra two. His family went the extra two miles by creating a race and charity in Stephen’s name. The charity is called Stephen Siller’s “Let Us Do Good Children’s Foundation”. This charity helps children with one or both parents in the war in Iraq or 9/11.
Every year they also host a race in New York following Stephen’s heroic footsteps through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel. I have been honored to run in that race alongside soldiers, police officers, and firemen strapped in all their gear. As we remember 9/11, I hope the country can not only remember those who were lost, but the heroes that sacrificed their life for others. We can all learn to go the extra mile … or two miles … for someone else. Thank you.
