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As the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks nears, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation is bringing a powerful symbol of remembrance to communities nationwide. A steel beam weighing nearly 17,000 pounds and measuring 21 feet in length, recovered from the South Tower of the World Trade Center, is making its final stops on an epic 10,500-mile journey across America.
“This tour is about ensuring that every generation can remember, and truly understand, what happened 25 years ago,” said Frank Siller, chairman and CEO of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. The beam serves as a traveling memorial, honoring the victims and first responders of 9/11 by visiting over 20 states, with events featuring local officials, first responders, and foundation members.
Dubbed “Steel Across America,” the initiative aims to bring this sacred piece of history to communities from coast to coast. Siller emphasized the importance of never forgetting the bravery displayed on that day. “No one, regardless of their age or where they live, should ever forget what happened here or the bravery that was shown by so many heroes.”
The foundation was established by Siller in memory of his brother, Stephen Siller, an FDNY firefighter who lost his life responding to the attacks. The journey began on May 2 in Lower Manhattan and will include stops in key locations such as California, Arizona, Washington, D.C., and Texas. The beam will be displayed at museums, town squares, sporting events, and even the White House before returning to Ground Zero on the 25th anniversary of 9/11.
One notable visit took place at Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida-the very site where President George W.
Bush was informed of the attacks on that tragic day. Andy Card, Bush’s former White House chief of staff who delivered the news to the president, was present for the beam’s visit in May.
Beyond memorial efforts, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation continues its mission by providing mortgage-free homes to families of fallen service members and first responders. This year, the foundation is honoring the 343 FDNY firefighters who perished on 9/11 by delivering 343 such homes, while also addressing veteran homelessness nationwide.
The journey of the steel beam stands as a moving tribute and a solemn reminder of sacrifice, courage, and the enduring spirit of the nation.