ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – The 23rd anniversary of 9/11 is just days away.
On that day in 2001, nearly 3,000 people lost their lives and more than 6,000 were injured.
It is still considered the worst attack on American soil in the country’s history.
It’s a day many will always remember.
“Every single time,” Patty Trousdell said. “I’m covered in goosebumps.”
Trousdell is the Tunnel to Towers volunteer race director, a 5K run and walk race meant to reflect on the tragic day.
“It is like this happened yesterday,” Trousdell said. “It’s an emotion that just never leaves you.”
The run particularly focuses on the actions of New York firefighter Stephen Siller.
“He was actually off duty and was on his way to play golf with his brothers,” Trousdell said. “He heard on the scanner that something had happened at the towers called his wife to tell them, ‘I’ll catch up with them later’ to get to downtown Manhattan and got stuck at the Brooklyn battery tunnel. He strapped on all of his gear. He ran three miles through the tunnel and Ground Zero where he lost his life.”
In honor of his service, hundreds in the World Golf Village ran 3.1 miles. That is almost the exact distance Siller ran in 2001.
“I’m just hoping to get to the finish line and have a good time,” Andrew Pearson said.
Pearson is a First Coast Technical College fire cadet. He’s training to be a firefighter.
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Some will run the 5K as typical runners would. Pearson will try and understand what many first responders experienced that day.
“When they were running for 9/11, they were running in full gear,” he said. “They had more gear than I did. They had a helmet they had respirators on. They didn’t even have running shoes. They had boots on, so I figured the least I could do is donate some gear and at least try to simulate what they were going through.”
The money raised from the run goes toward helping veterans and first responders.
The Tunnel to Towers organization helps provide housing to families of fallen veterans and first responders and builds homes for those injured.
“[Tunnel to Towers] Support our first responders and military that continue to sacrifice life and limb every day,” Trousdell said. “For most people, they don’t even know the sacrifice. Most of us don’t understand. It’s my honor to be a part of it.”
And of course, organizers said it’s to make sure we “never forget.”
Trousdell said they hope to expand the race across the country. She said the goal is to eventually have over 300 Tunnel to Towers races.
The race started in New York before making its way to St. Augustine.