1 00:00:04,160 --> 00:00:09,719 Speaker 1: Twenty years ago, twenty two decades ago. This September eleven, 2 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:14,080 Speaker 1: nearly three thousand lives were lost in the coordinated attacks 3 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:17,520 Speaker 1: upon the World Trade Center, New York City, the Pentagon 4 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 1: in Washington, d C. And in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where hijacked 5 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:28,160 Speaker 1: United Airlines Flight nine crashed after passengers sacrificed their own 6 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:32,519 Speaker 1: lives to prevent the terrorists from carrying out their larger mission. 7 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:37,960 Speaker 1: On this day, New York City firefighter Stephen Siller ran 8 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:43,559 Speaker 1: with other first responders through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to 9 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:47,159 Speaker 1: the Twin Tours, where he gave his life saving others. 10 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:51,159 Speaker 1: Since that day, Stephen's brother, Frank Siller, has made it 11 00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:56,240 Speaker 1: his mission to provide mortgage free homes to gold star 12 00:00:56,760 --> 00:01:00,920 Speaker 1: and fallen first responder families with young children, and to 13 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 1: build custom designed smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and 14 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:10,640 Speaker 1: first responders, as a way of honoring his little brother's 15 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:14,039 Speaker 1: sacrifice and all who gave their lives for us. On 16 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:18,800 Speaker 1: September eleventh, two thousand and one, Frank founded the Tunnel 17 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:24,479 Speaker 1: Two Towers Foundation Tunnel because his brother Stephen ran through 18 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 1: the tunnel to the towers. He founded the organization in 19 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:32,640 Speaker 1: two thousand and one, and he has served as chairman, 20 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:37,680 Speaker 1: which is an unpaid volunteer position since its inception. It's 21 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:41,320 Speaker 1: his whole life mission. It supports America's heroes in their 22 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 1: families and helps our nation to keep its commitment to 23 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:47,120 Speaker 1: never forget. This is going to be a powerful and 24 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:50,880 Speaker 1: moving episode of Loves Someone. I suggest you settle in, 25 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:55,480 Speaker 1: grab some tissue, prepare yourself for some strong emotional responses. 26 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:58,400 Speaker 1: I am honored to hear Frank's story and to help 27 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:01,160 Speaker 1: him share it with all of the We will be 28 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:06,760 Speaker 1: speaking with Frank Siller, founder of Tunnel two Towers next. 29 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:09,360 Speaker 1: Right now, I want to give some well deserved credit 30 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:13,160 Speaker 1: to one of my amazing podcast sponsors who make this 31 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:20,239 Speaker 1: very conversation possible. This podcast is sponsored by Better Help, 32 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:23,799 Speaker 1: a company set up to help people. It's not a 33 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:27,880 Speaker 1: crisis line or self help group, but a group of 34 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:33,639 Speaker 1: professionals who provide counseling that's done securely online. They make 35 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:35,800 Speaker 1: it possible for you to talk with them from the 36 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 1: comfort of your own home or office. You don't have 37 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:42,280 Speaker 1: to limit yourself to counselors near you, and it's much 38 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:47,480 Speaker 1: more affordable than traditional counseling with financial aid available. Better 39 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:53,000 Speaker 1: Help matches you with licensed professionals that specialize in everything 40 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 1: from depression, distress, family conflict, trauma, grief, to self esteem 41 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:03,320 Speaker 1: and much more. Everything is confidential and it's easy to 42 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 1: make appointments via video or phone. They can help you 43 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:11,839 Speaker 1: start living a happier life today. Received ten percent off 44 00:03:11,880 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 1: your first month by visiting better Help dot com. Slash 45 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:21,520 Speaker 1: Love Someone. That's b E T T E r h 46 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 1: E l P dot com slash love Someone. Over one 47 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:30,520 Speaker 1: million people have taken charge of their mental health with 48 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 1: Better Help. So welcome Frank to Love Someone. We chose 49 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 1: the name of this podcast love Someone because that's my 50 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:46,200 Speaker 1: daily mission is to share real love in a dark world. 51 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:50,200 Speaker 1: And boy, have you been doing that In honor of 52 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 1: your brother for twenty years now. Tunnels to Towers is 53 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 1: the name of your organization to honor Stephen, your brother 54 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 1: who paid the ultimate price. No greater love is there 55 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 1: than this that you would lay down your life for 56 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 1: a friend and he laid down his for complete strangers. 57 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 1: So tell me about your brother and how that inspired 58 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:19,000 Speaker 1: you to birth this organization. Well, you know we have 59 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 1: I have to go back to when my brother was 60 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 1: a little boy. Really for people to understand the unbelovable 61 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:26,919 Speaker 1: loss that we had as a family. On September eleven, 62 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 1: two thousand and one. So Stephen was the youngest of 63 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:33,919 Speaker 1: seven kids. My mother was forty I was forty five 64 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:36,440 Speaker 1: when she gave birth to my brother Stephen. Did she 65 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:39,280 Speaker 1: think she was done? Like had she like put all 66 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:43,040 Speaker 1: the toddler toys away, given them out at garage sales 67 00:04:43,279 --> 00:04:46,200 Speaker 1: and was moving on fourteen years earlier because I was 68 00:04:46,279 --> 00:04:49,800 Speaker 1: closest in age and I'm fourteen years older than Stephen, 69 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:54,680 Speaker 1: So he really was a surprise. No, he was a miracle. 70 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 1: He was a little angel. He was a little miracle. 71 00:04:57,760 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 1: And uh, he was just like the more of the family. 72 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 1: It's just really very close. You know. My mother had 73 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 1: six kids by the time she was thirty, and then 74 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:07,719 Speaker 1: she had him almost, like I said, forty five. And 75 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 1: then so when he was eight and a half, my 76 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:13,479 Speaker 1: father died and a year and a half later my 77 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 1: mom died. So at ten years old, he was really 78 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:20,320 Speaker 1: often although he was blessed that he had much older siblings. 79 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:23,479 Speaker 1: My brother Russ was twenty five years older than Stephen, 80 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:26,360 Speaker 1: and uh, like I said, I was the closest in 81 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:29,440 Speaker 1: age of fourteen years older, so I was in my twenties. 82 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 1: My brother Russ was in his thirties when my parents died, 83 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:37,400 Speaker 1: so we raised him primarily my brother Russ Rockfell Sentiment, 84 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:40,920 Speaker 1: Long Island, but Stephen was born and raised on Staaten 85 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:43,400 Speaker 1: Island until he was ten years old and then was 86 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:47,520 Speaker 1: out in Rockfell Center. So he had a very early 87 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:51,640 Speaker 1: age realized that every day was precious, life was very precious. 88 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 1: And then he you know, grows up, comes back to 89 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 1: State night and lives at me for a short period time, 90 00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:01,440 Speaker 1: gets reintroduced who a girl who used to walk to 91 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:04,640 Speaker 1: school with it when he was in the like second, third, 92 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:07,839 Speaker 1: fourth grade. You know, they fall in love, they get married. 93 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:10,560 Speaker 1: I mean, it's just it's it's a fairy tale, and 94 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:13,720 Speaker 1: they get married, they have five beautiful kids. Oh my word, 95 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:16,120 Speaker 1: he's on top of the world. He's on top of 96 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:19,800 Speaker 1: the world. He becomes a firefighter at age seven. He's 97 00:06:19,839 --> 00:06:24,159 Speaker 1: got everything to live for. And then he's finished his 98 00:06:24,279 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 1: night tour. On September elevens, two thousand and one, is 99 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:29,080 Speaker 1: on his way home to play golf with my brother Rush, 100 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:31,720 Speaker 1: my brother George, myself and him. The four brothers were 101 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:34,280 Speaker 1: going to play golf. He is on the radio scanner 102 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:37,760 Speaker 1: that the towers were hit. Goes back to his firehouse, 103 00:06:38,120 --> 00:06:41,040 Speaker 1: gets his gear, goes to the mouth of the Brooklyn 104 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 1: Battery Tunnel, where it's closed for security reasons. That tunnel 105 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:47,400 Speaker 1: is almost two miles long. He strapped sixty pounds of 106 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 1: five year on his back and runs through that tunnel, 107 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:54,360 Speaker 1: comes out the other side, goes up West Street, goes 108 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:56,640 Speaker 1: into what we believe the South Tower because he was 109 00:06:56,680 --> 00:06:59,680 Speaker 1: never recovered, but he lost the eleven firefighter brothers that 110 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:02,039 Speaker 1: he were with that day. They were all in the 111 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 1: South Tower and Uh goes up those stairs and all 112 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:09,040 Speaker 1: saving people, he gives up his life. So we were 113 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:13,520 Speaker 1: just overcome with emotion, obviously just on the day itself, 114 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:16,600 Speaker 1: but then finding out what he did. We knew that 115 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:18,880 Speaker 1: we had to do something as a family to honor 116 00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:22,160 Speaker 1: and respect not only what Stephen did that day, but 117 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:25,200 Speaker 1: so many heroes did that day. And that's why we 118 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:30,200 Speaker 1: started the Tunnel to Towers Foundation in honor of all 119 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:35,040 Speaker 1: those who perish, but most certainly my brother. Oh. I 120 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:37,920 Speaker 1: can tell you shared this story many times because you 121 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 1: do it without hesitation. Well, it's a story I've been 122 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:46,080 Speaker 1: sharing for twenty years and look, our mission is pretty clear. 123 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 1: It's very simple. We want to make sure we never forget. 124 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:52,720 Speaker 1: That's the number one mission, and we do a lot 125 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 1: of beautiful things. We'll get to that, but the first 126 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:58,760 Speaker 1: mission is to never forget once again, not just Stephen, 127 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 1: but all the two thousand, nine seventy seven souls that 128 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:06,240 Speaker 1: died that day. The second is to honor them, and 129 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:10,400 Speaker 1: we honor them by doing good. And doing good is 130 00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:14,360 Speaker 1: something that we've been living by. My parents were Franciscans. 131 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:18,080 Speaker 1: San Francis said, brothers and sisters, while you have time, 132 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:20,680 Speaker 1: let us do good. And that is very simple, and 133 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:23,120 Speaker 1: that's our model that we live by. Let us do good. 134 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:25,760 Speaker 1: That's all the Foundation wants to do good. And we 135 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:29,600 Speaker 1: do good by taking care of the greatest of all Americans, 136 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:32,840 Speaker 1: those Delilah who are willing to die for you and 137 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 1: for me. And that's what we did. We take care 138 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:38,560 Speaker 1: of the families that are left behind, and then we 139 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 1: celebrate their lives. We have to celebrate their lives because 140 00:08:42,040 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 1: they don't want us to be said. They want us 141 00:08:44,559 --> 00:08:47,480 Speaker 1: to enjoy life the best that you can, because you'll 142 00:08:47,520 --> 00:08:49,480 Speaker 1: have bad days. But we want to enjoy life the 143 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:51,959 Speaker 1: best you can, but you want to celebrate what they 144 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:54,360 Speaker 1: did and their lives, and you can only do that 145 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 1: in the joyous way, and we do that all the time. 146 00:08:56,559 --> 00:08:58,640 Speaker 1: We have a big run every year in September we 147 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:02,120 Speaker 1: emulate what Stephen did, his final heroic footsteps. We have 148 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:06,960 Speaker 1: forty people run through that tunnel, thousands of firefighters, thousands 149 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:11,440 Speaker 1: of police office running the turnout here, thousands of military 150 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 1: rucket you know, they put their backpacks on phill it rocks, 151 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:18,760 Speaker 1: you name it. They fill it. They want that weight, 152 00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 1: they want that challenge, they want to respect what was 153 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:24,640 Speaker 1: done that day. It is just so moving. You come 154 00:09:24,679 --> 00:09:26,680 Speaker 1: out of the Brooklyn Battery tunnel and when you run 155 00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:28,760 Speaker 1: through it, it's almost, like I said, almost two miles long. 156 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 1: When you come out, we have pictures of every five 157 00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:34,840 Speaker 1: fighter and police officers that died that thing. When you 158 00:09:34,840 --> 00:09:37,240 Speaker 1: come out of the tunnel, that's what you see. We're 159 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:40,560 Speaker 1: all lined up. We put a face to a number, 160 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:44,560 Speaker 1: and it's very important that these great Americans are aren't forgotten. 161 00:09:44,679 --> 00:09:46,520 Speaker 1: So that's what you do. You come there. But at 162 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:49,240 Speaker 1: the end I called the Miracle the Lows. We feed 163 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:53,640 Speaker 1: all these thirty people and we have a music festival 164 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:57,520 Speaker 1: we're honoring them in a beautiful family way, and it's 165 00:09:57,559 --> 00:09:59,960 Speaker 1: just the most patriotic day and event you can pass. 166 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 1: So yeah, less but not least on that day. We 167 00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:05,360 Speaker 1: have west points to debt that running cadence through that 168 00:10:05,400 --> 00:10:07,720 Speaker 1: tunnel and that chanting, and they're running with a lot 169 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:10,720 Speaker 1: of the catastrophically agied service members that we built specially 170 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:14,960 Speaker 1: adopted mortgage free smart homes for and they're going through 171 00:10:14,960 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 1: and they it's just I can't so that the cadets 172 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:24,600 Speaker 1: are in cadence with the wounded warriors, with the most 173 00:10:24,679 --> 00:10:28,800 Speaker 1: catastrophically aged service members. That's what we built for the 174 00:10:28,880 --> 00:10:36,000 Speaker 1: most catastrophically aged service members, double triple, quadruple empetees, quadriplegic paraplegics, 175 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:39,320 Speaker 1: and they're going through the tunnel to absolutely we had 176 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:44,440 Speaker 1: a quadruple MPT Todd nicely second quadruple empathy ever survived 177 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:48,480 Speaker 1: in the battlefield. He's out of St. Louis. He puts 178 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:50,760 Speaker 1: on his prosthetics. By the way, it takes him about 179 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:52,720 Speaker 1: an hour to get ready in the morning, just to 180 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:54,800 Speaker 1: get out of bed, but he puts on all four 181 00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:58,360 Speaker 1: his proscetics. He does the run. He runs through that tunnel, 182 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:01,400 Speaker 1: and it's it's just incredible. A lot of them have 183 00:11:01,480 --> 00:11:03,960 Speaker 1: to be in wheelchairs. People have helped, you know, we 184 00:11:04,040 --> 00:11:06,720 Speaker 1: push them, you know, through on their wheelchairs. Whatever others 185 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:09,280 Speaker 1: do us a bite, whatever it may be. We have 186 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:12,320 Speaker 1: so many catastrophically agi of service members that do it. 187 00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:16,200 Speaker 1: And yes, West Point that's are guarding them. It's like 188 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:18,840 Speaker 1: an honor God. They run alongside of them and they're 189 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:22,600 Speaker 1: chanting and they say, it's just so uplifting, it's incredible. 190 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:28,360 Speaker 1: Have you made a movie or a documentary just about that. Documentaries, Yes, 191 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:32,960 Speaker 1: we have just that picture you just painted alone of 192 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:40,079 Speaker 1: these young fresh faced cadets. Yes, in uniform, I'm guessing, 193 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:43,520 Speaker 1: or in fatigues. Yeah, they're you know the tees. Yes, 194 00:11:44,679 --> 00:11:47,840 Speaker 1: it's incredible. I mean just just that mental image right 195 00:11:47,880 --> 00:11:53,120 Speaker 1: now is breaking my heart in such a good way. Well, now, 196 00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 1: then they go down the West Point of Debts, go 197 00:11:55,080 --> 00:11:58,959 Speaker 1: down to ground zero, and the commandant or superintendent they 198 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:01,040 Speaker 1: go there and they and they go to ground zero 199 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:05,640 Speaker 1: right there, and they talk about the importance of why 200 00:12:05,679 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 1: they're serving their country and they say, you know, hey, 201 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:11,720 Speaker 1: look at those guys that you just ran with, you know, 202 00:12:11,760 --> 00:12:14,160 Speaker 1: look at the sacrifice they made. And you're willing to 203 00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:16,800 Speaker 1: sign up and do that because we're all volunteer military. 204 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:20,240 Speaker 1: We were blessed in this country that we have Americans 205 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:23,599 Speaker 1: are willing to stand up and protect us. It's incredible. 206 00:12:23,679 --> 00:12:26,720 Speaker 1: So it's just the whole day is very emotional, but 207 00:12:26,760 --> 00:12:29,640 Speaker 1: it's so beautiful and so uplifting too because, like I said, 208 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:32,319 Speaker 1: my brother ran through that tunnel, but he came out 209 00:12:32,360 --> 00:12:35,480 Speaker 1: the other side. Now he came out the other side 210 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:39,240 Speaker 1: to help. So as a family, we chose that when 211 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:43,240 Speaker 1: we go through our tunnel, our sadness or despair, the 212 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:46,640 Speaker 1: loss of our little brother and of so many others. 213 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:49,560 Speaker 1: I lost a lot of friends that say, besides, and 214 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:52,120 Speaker 1: we have to come through that tone come out the 215 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:55,840 Speaker 1: other side, and we have to help. And that's what 216 00:12:55,920 --> 00:12:58,400 Speaker 1: our foundation does. We want to make sure we take 217 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:00,640 Speaker 1: care of these families because not what's what he serves 218 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:03,920 Speaker 1: and could be a military, it could be a police officer, 219 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:08,680 Speaker 1: could be a firefighter, law enforcement union. When somebody serves, 220 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:12,040 Speaker 1: the whole family serves. Yeah, amen to that. My My 221 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:16,360 Speaker 1: oldest son is a police officer and his whole family. 222 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:19,240 Speaker 1: He has four kids and a wife that's been by 223 00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:22,360 Speaker 1: his side through thick and thin through the tunnels of 224 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:27,120 Speaker 1: life for you know, almost two decades now and they 225 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:31,680 Speaker 1: all pay the price, they all served. They all it's 226 00:13:31,720 --> 00:13:36,559 Speaker 1: not a job, it's a life, it's a calling. So tunnels, 227 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:39,320 Speaker 1: the Talas Foundation and the people listening, they can go 228 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:43,280 Speaker 1: to t the number two, T dot org T the 229 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:46,520 Speaker 1: number two and T dot org Tunnels to towers is 230 00:13:46,559 --> 00:13:49,480 Speaker 1: what it stands for. Right, and we asked people donate 231 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:51,560 Speaker 1: as little as eleven dollars a month. But listen, this 232 00:13:51,679 --> 00:13:54,000 Speaker 1: is our promise in our contract. We when we want 233 00:13:54,040 --> 00:13:57,920 Speaker 1: people to join us on our mission that when these 234 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:01,160 Speaker 1: great American heroes go serve the community or their country, 235 00:14:01,280 --> 00:14:03,079 Speaker 1: right and they give their kids a kiss goodbye and 236 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:05,959 Speaker 1: they don't come home, we want to deliver them a 237 00:14:06,040 --> 00:14:08,760 Speaker 1: mortgage free home. So if they have a mortgage three 238 00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:13,040 Speaker 1: hundred thousand dollar mortgage, whatever it is, four to fifty, 239 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:16,520 Speaker 1: whatever it is, we want to pay that mortgage off. 240 00:14:16,640 --> 00:14:19,320 Speaker 1: Because that should be the promise that we have as 241 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:22,480 Speaker 1: Americans to these families that if they're willing to protect 242 00:14:22,560 --> 00:14:24,600 Speaker 1: us and willing to die for us, and when that happens, 243 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 1: because it does happen, that we're going to take care 244 00:14:27,760 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 1: of their families and that's all promised as a foundation 245 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 1: that we're going to take care every every first responder 246 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:36,400 Speaker 1: in America that dies in the line of duty that 247 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:39,120 Speaker 1: leaves a young family behind. And we've been doing that, 248 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:42,000 Speaker 1: but we only do because people go and join us 249 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:44,520 Speaker 1: on a mission, donate as littles eleven dollars a month. 250 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:48,880 Speaker 1: You know, many hands makes light work, and that's why 251 00:14:48,920 --> 00:14:52,040 Speaker 1: we count on many people to join us. How many 252 00:14:52,040 --> 00:14:55,360 Speaker 1: people do you think participate in the runs that happen 253 00:14:55,680 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 1: every year, Well, just two or three hundred people. And 254 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:03,600 Speaker 1: I'm and some runs have six seven thousand, but our 255 00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:07,000 Speaker 1: run has forty thou so, uh, you know, so hundreds 256 00:15:07,040 --> 00:15:10,120 Speaker 1: of thousands of people. But we have stair climbs, we 257 00:15:10,200 --> 00:15:12,560 Speaker 1: have golf outings, we have events that people put on 258 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:15,360 Speaker 1: for us all over America because they want to join us. 259 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:18,200 Speaker 1: Because you know what, here's the thing. We're four stall rating. 260 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:21,200 Speaker 1: That's the highs you can get. We're a hundred transparency 261 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:24,480 Speaker 1: and last year in we just did our tax return, 262 00:15:24,520 --> 00:15:28,400 Speaker 1: we're ninety five cents of every dollar goes to our programs. 263 00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:30,840 Speaker 1: I don't get paid, my siblings don't get paid. We 264 00:15:30,880 --> 00:15:34,320 Speaker 1: have tens of thousands of volunteers we deliver. We don't 265 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:36,520 Speaker 1: just say we deliver it so people could see where 266 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 1: their money goes. So you see this picture here, it's 267 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:45,760 Speaker 1: with forty eight Medal of Honor recipients, forty eight of them. 268 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:48,720 Speaker 1: They sent it to me. It's a beautiful picture. Of course, 269 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:51,640 Speaker 1: my picture of me and my wife and my six grandchildren. 270 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:56,440 Speaker 1: That's the most important picture to me. Uh And portraits 271 00:15:56,480 --> 00:16:00,520 Speaker 1: of people that have sacrificed. It's all about family for us, 272 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:04,040 Speaker 1: but it's also about a country. We're going to take 273 00:16:04,040 --> 00:16:07,240 Speaker 1: a break right now. We're talking with the gentleman who 274 00:16:07,400 --> 00:16:13,440 Speaker 1: started the Tunnels to Tower organization charity project, and we 275 00:16:13,480 --> 00:16:16,120 Speaker 1: will come right back and talk a little bit more 276 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:19,160 Speaker 1: about your heart, about your passion, and about ways that 277 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:24,560 Speaker 1: people can get involved. This podcast episode is all about 278 00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:29,200 Speaker 1: an organization that provides help and hope to some very 279 00:16:29,240 --> 00:16:35,040 Speaker 1: deserving recipients. Not unlike today's sponsor Mercy Ships. Mercy Ship 280 00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:38,400 Speaker 1: sends floating hospitals to some of the poorest countries in 281 00:16:38,440 --> 00:16:42,200 Speaker 1: the world with the crew of medical professionals that provide 282 00:16:42,280 --> 00:16:47,360 Speaker 1: free life changing surgeries to some very grateful patients. They 283 00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:52,080 Speaker 1: are sustained entirely by the generosity of volunteers and donors 284 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:56,360 Speaker 1: just like you. You can help in three ways. You 285 00:16:56,400 --> 00:17:00,080 Speaker 1: can give, you can go, and you can pray. And 286 00:17:00,200 --> 00:17:04,360 Speaker 1: more about the organization volunteer opportunities and how to make 287 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:08,639 Speaker 1: a donation by visiting Mercy ships dot org slash love. 288 00:17:09,119 --> 00:17:14,359 Speaker 1: That's Mercy Ships dot org slash love. We are back, 289 00:17:14,920 --> 00:17:18,480 Speaker 1: and I'm kind of quiet today. I'm kind of subdued 290 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:22,520 Speaker 1: because when we open this podcast, you were describing what 291 00:17:22,680 --> 00:17:29,800 Speaker 1: Stephen did one eleven running through the tunnel, and my 292 00:17:29,960 --> 00:17:35,560 Speaker 1: podcast producer sent me all the information beforehand, so I 293 00:17:35,640 --> 00:17:38,919 Speaker 1: knew that I get like that all the time. So 294 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:43,359 Speaker 1: you're very genuine and I and I appreciate it, and uh, 295 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:47,600 Speaker 1: it is heartbreaking, but it is so inspiring what my 296 00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:50,480 Speaker 1: brother did, and that he inspired us to be better, 297 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:56,080 Speaker 1: not better. That's amazing because if that were my little brother, 298 00:17:56,720 --> 00:18:00,119 Speaker 1: I don't know that I wouldn't be a little bit better. No, 299 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:02,760 Speaker 1: I was better. I can't tell you I wasn't. That 300 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:05,080 Speaker 1: being said, I know that he doesn't want us to 301 00:18:05,119 --> 00:18:08,080 Speaker 1: be said. We want to do good in this world 302 00:18:08,119 --> 00:18:10,440 Speaker 1: and and then most certainly for our country, so that 303 00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:14,159 Speaker 1: that's what we focus on. What a gift of peace 304 00:18:14,359 --> 00:18:18,359 Speaker 1: that must be for thousands of people, and it is 305 00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:22,919 Speaker 1: thousands and yes. And I call almost every single widow 306 00:18:23,040 --> 00:18:28,320 Speaker 1: myself and I talked to them. Over the last twenty years. 307 00:18:29,040 --> 00:18:33,040 Speaker 1: I've learned how to speak to somebody who is grieving 308 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:38,080 Speaker 1: and such an unbelievable loss. And I I almost every 309 00:18:38,080 --> 00:18:40,240 Speaker 1: one of them. I say, Tom, do you believe in 310 00:18:40,520 --> 00:18:43,639 Speaker 1: life after death? No one said no to me, be 311 00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:46,360 Speaker 1: quite frank with you, and they say, yes, I do, 312 00:18:46,640 --> 00:18:48,200 Speaker 1: and I and then I changed and I said, no, 313 00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:50,920 Speaker 1: I'm not talking about for your husband. I'm talking about 314 00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:55,360 Speaker 1: for you. Is life after death for you? And you 315 00:18:55,440 --> 00:18:58,320 Speaker 1: have to realize that the best way to honor somebody. 316 00:18:58,320 --> 00:19:00,520 Speaker 1: And I'm not telling anybody had to grieve and how 317 00:19:00,520 --> 00:19:03,400 Speaker 1: to get through things, not doing that, but I think 318 00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:05,800 Speaker 1: the best way to honor somebody is to have a full, 319 00:19:06,119 --> 00:19:09,879 Speaker 1: good life, live a good life. And they have to 320 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:12,640 Speaker 1: realize and in the beginning, of course, you just can't 321 00:19:12,640 --> 00:19:15,320 Speaker 1: even get out of bed, almost in the beginning, But 322 00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:19,160 Speaker 1: then when they realize that people care, that's important. And 323 00:19:19,280 --> 00:19:21,359 Speaker 1: I think that that's a message that we bring to 324 00:19:21,400 --> 00:19:25,880 Speaker 1: these widows, well widow, is that people care. They don't 325 00:19:25,920 --> 00:19:28,480 Speaker 1: know me, that we're somebody that they didn't even know. 326 00:19:28,880 --> 00:19:31,480 Speaker 1: And here we are saying we're gonna pay off your 327 00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:33,320 Speaker 1: mortgage and you're gonna be able to stay in the 328 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:36,680 Speaker 1: house that you were making all the memories with your 329 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:39,720 Speaker 1: husband and your kids and you can stay there. And 330 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:43,640 Speaker 1: that's a tremendous burden lift off that family, tremendous financial work. 331 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:47,400 Speaker 1: Because we all know the biggest expense we all have 332 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:50,960 Speaker 1: right is our mortgage and that it's done. So what 333 00:19:51,080 --> 00:19:55,040 Speaker 1: does that do That enables some of these families with 334 00:19:55,160 --> 00:19:59,240 Speaker 1: the mother or father can stay home and or work 335 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:02,760 Speaker 1: part times a full time, two jobs or whatever to 336 00:20:02,760 --> 00:20:05,840 Speaker 1: pay mortgage and two and to feed your kids. Yeah, 337 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:09,800 Speaker 1: it's hard enough to lose one parent, and like you said, 338 00:20:09,880 --> 00:20:12,919 Speaker 1: if the parent left behind then has to assume that 339 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:18,080 Speaker 1: financial obligation. You lose two parents. Yes, you lose the 340 00:20:18,119 --> 00:20:20,199 Speaker 1: parent who passed on and you lose the parent who 341 00:20:20,240 --> 00:20:22,800 Speaker 1: has now gone, you know, eighteen hours a day trying 342 00:20:22,840 --> 00:20:27,200 Speaker 1: to provide. So you're right, you're you're giving those kids 343 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:31,680 Speaker 1: mom or dad, whoever is left behind, You're giving them 344 00:20:31,960 --> 00:20:35,920 Speaker 1: them more fully. And how did I mean, how did 345 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:38,919 Speaker 1: this come to you? Like you're grieving you lost your 346 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:42,920 Speaker 1: baby brother. He was never recovered so now you've got 347 00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:46,080 Speaker 1: grief on top of grief. I lost a brother in 348 00:20:46,119 --> 00:20:49,160 Speaker 1: an airplane accident. We didn't have the body, we didn't 349 00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:51,959 Speaker 1: have the remains, we didn't know what happened for years. 350 00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:57,440 Speaker 1: So I know that compounded grief of not having that closure. 351 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:02,560 Speaker 1: How long after you lost Stephen, Frank, did you go 352 00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:05,160 Speaker 1: you know what I could do? This I could help 353 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:10,399 Speaker 1: I could help impact the lives of families like Stevens. 354 00:21:11,480 --> 00:21:14,920 Speaker 1: Walk me through that process. How God imparted that upon 355 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:19,360 Speaker 1: your heart? The truth is we've been guided the whole way. 356 00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:23,119 Speaker 1: Albeit we did decide very early on. I remember talking 357 00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:25,119 Speaker 1: to my sister in law, and this is only weeks 358 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:27,399 Speaker 1: after my brother was gone. I said, I think we 359 00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:30,480 Speaker 1: should start a foundation to honor what Stephen did and 360 00:21:30,600 --> 00:21:33,760 Speaker 1: help kids. Why not help, you know, these kids that 361 00:21:33,760 --> 00:21:35,640 Speaker 1: are left behind when they died in the line of duty. 362 00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 1: So that's when we first thought it. But I'm gonna 363 00:21:38,760 --> 00:21:42,359 Speaker 1: tell you we were doing a lot. But in two 364 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:46,280 Speaker 1: thousand and ten, the first ever quadruple amputee that ever 365 00:21:46,359 --> 00:21:49,280 Speaker 1: survived any war was from where Stephen was born where 366 00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:51,919 Speaker 1: I was born, in stan Island, New York, and I 367 00:21:51,960 --> 00:21:54,639 Speaker 1: went down to visit him and Walter Reid Army Medical Centers. 368 00:21:54,680 --> 00:21:57,479 Speaker 1: Name is Sawgeant Brenda Morocco, and I was down there. 369 00:21:57,520 --> 00:21:59,080 Speaker 1: I was talking to him, and I said, Brenda, kind 370 00:21:59,119 --> 00:22:03,000 Speaker 1: the tunnels, the tower was foundation, build you a mortgage 371 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:07,240 Speaker 1: free home. And he accepted, and we've delivered June eleventh, 372 00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:10,080 Speaker 1: two thousand and eleven. So it was almost on the 373 00:22:10,080 --> 00:22:13,440 Speaker 1: tenth anniversaries, three months of the tenth anniversary nine eleven. 374 00:22:13,480 --> 00:22:15,840 Speaker 1: So we were doing a lot, you know, raising a 375 00:22:16,000 --> 00:22:18,960 Speaker 1: million dollars a year, seven hundred thousand dollars or whatever 376 00:22:19,760 --> 00:22:22,359 Speaker 1: up it to that point. But now we built this house, 377 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:25,240 Speaker 1: had raised the coast over seven hundred thousand dollars to 378 00:22:25,280 --> 00:22:27,800 Speaker 1: build this house in the New York area. I don't 379 00:22:27,840 --> 00:22:30,479 Speaker 1: have to tell you that. And um, we put all 380 00:22:30,520 --> 00:22:33,360 Speaker 1: this small technology in it. And then there was two 381 00:22:33,359 --> 00:22:38,000 Speaker 1: more quadruple emputees right away that survived. And we said, well, 382 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:39,880 Speaker 1: we built for Brendon, we have to build for these 383 00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:42,240 Speaker 1: two guys. So I'm down to Walter read all the time. 384 00:22:42,359 --> 00:22:44,520 Speaker 1: We meet more and more, so it ends up being 385 00:22:44,520 --> 00:22:49,200 Speaker 1: five quaduble amputees. But there's thirty eight triple amputees. I 386 00:22:49,240 --> 00:22:53,040 Speaker 1: was visiting, So I said on the anniversary the tenth 387 00:22:53,040 --> 00:22:56,320 Speaker 1: Anniversity nine eleven, we had a small concert. We told 388 00:22:56,359 --> 00:22:59,200 Speaker 1: stories of nine eleven. We told some stories of different families. 389 00:22:59,440 --> 00:23:01,240 Speaker 1: We didn't even tell my brother's story. We told other 390 00:23:01,280 --> 00:23:04,760 Speaker 1: people's stories, right, And I was on the stage giving 391 00:23:04,920 --> 00:23:08,400 Speaker 1: a few words, and I said, look, we're building these 392 00:23:08,400 --> 00:23:11,880 Speaker 1: houses for troople emputees. There's thirty eight triple emputees. And said, 393 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:13,680 Speaker 1: now we're going to build these thirty eight houses for 394 00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:17,200 Speaker 1: tree blamp. Out of your mouth came that commitment. And 395 00:23:17,240 --> 00:23:19,399 Speaker 1: then you're like, oh, wait a minute. I said it 396 00:23:19,440 --> 00:23:21,920 Speaker 1: out loud, and I do that all the time, Delilah. 397 00:23:22,040 --> 00:23:25,119 Speaker 1: That's what I learned in life. Say it out loud, 398 00:23:25,440 --> 00:23:27,919 Speaker 1: and you have to complete it. So I said it 399 00:23:27,920 --> 00:23:31,120 Speaker 1: out loud that day my sisters, and what, oh my god, 400 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:34,920 Speaker 1: what's he throwing up there? You know, because to fathom 401 00:23:34,960 --> 00:23:38,480 Speaker 1: that is millions of dollars. But I know God takes 402 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:40,920 Speaker 1: care of us because we're so pure that what we're 403 00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:43,879 Speaker 1: doing is so pure. I know they would attract people 404 00:23:43,880 --> 00:23:46,560 Speaker 1: to us that can help us build these houses. I 405 00:23:46,560 --> 00:23:49,320 Speaker 1: had the utmost confidence, and we have. We built so 406 00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:51,480 Speaker 1: many of these smart homes all over the country. But 407 00:23:51,560 --> 00:23:54,120 Speaker 1: that's how we started with smart homes. But I'm gonna 408 00:23:54,160 --> 00:23:57,119 Speaker 1: tell you how we started with paying off the mortgages 409 00:23:57,160 --> 00:24:01,080 Speaker 1: for police officers and first responders. December twenty of two 410 00:24:01,160 --> 00:24:05,439 Speaker 1: thousand and fourteen, New York City, there was two police 411 00:24:05,440 --> 00:24:08,400 Speaker 1: officers sitting in their car and somebody come up out 412 00:24:08,440 --> 00:24:11,399 Speaker 1: of Baltimore and they thought it was all right to 413 00:24:11,480 --> 00:24:13,920 Speaker 1: kilicopters because they had a blue uniform up and it 414 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:16,320 Speaker 1: came out and assassinate him sitting in their cup just 415 00:24:16,320 --> 00:24:20,359 Speaker 1: Bom detectors Loo and detectives ramas you probably remember it. 416 00:24:20,359 --> 00:24:24,560 Speaker 1: It was, yeah. So I went and visited the family 417 00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:28,840 Speaker 1: on Christmas Eve. We went there and we heard that 418 00:24:28,880 --> 00:24:31,680 Speaker 1: they were concerned about their mortgages and how they're gonna 419 00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:34,080 Speaker 1: stay in the house. Bees. These were the read winners 420 00:24:34,280 --> 00:24:38,200 Speaker 1: of the family, and we said, we're gonna pay off 421 00:24:38,240 --> 00:24:40,960 Speaker 1: your mortgage. We raised enough money in ten days not 422 00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:43,679 Speaker 1: only pay off the mortgage, but we remodeled their homes. 423 00:24:44,800 --> 00:24:47,080 Speaker 1: So I saw the difference did that make? And I said, 424 00:24:47,119 --> 00:24:49,040 Speaker 1: you know what, we gotta do this now for all 425 00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:53,480 Speaker 1: police officers and first responders. So we took on that commitment, 426 00:24:53,760 --> 00:24:56,560 Speaker 1: and you know what, because more and more people join us. 427 00:24:56,600 --> 00:24:59,960 Speaker 1: Once again t the number two t dot org sty 428 00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:04,480 Speaker 1: is a tunnel two towers t the number two T 429 00:25:04,880 --> 00:25:08,959 Speaker 1: dot org. They donate eleven dollars a month. We're able 430 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:11,399 Speaker 1: to take care of these families, but I need a 431 00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:13,719 Speaker 1: lot more. My hope is and I pray for this. 432 00:25:14,040 --> 00:25:16,000 Speaker 1: You know that we had a million people join us 433 00:25:16,040 --> 00:25:19,200 Speaker 1: on this mission. We could take care of every police officer, 434 00:25:19,280 --> 00:25:23,439 Speaker 1: every firefighter, every first respond to, every military personnel that 435 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:26,520 Speaker 1: dies online of duty. And it leave young kids behind 436 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:32,359 Speaker 1: every year, forever, forever. That's Frank. My show has never 437 00:25:32,440 --> 00:25:36,600 Speaker 1: been and never will be political. I will never take 438 00:25:36,720 --> 00:25:40,520 Speaker 1: a political stand because my I want my show to 439 00:25:40,520 --> 00:25:43,520 Speaker 1: be inclusive and I don't want anyone to ever feel 440 00:25:45,119 --> 00:25:47,720 Speaker 1: that they don't belong. And that was just the point 441 00:25:47,760 --> 00:25:51,520 Speaker 1: I was going to make. The beautiful thing about what 442 00:25:51,680 --> 00:25:56,880 Speaker 1: you're doing is if you if you have an ounce 443 00:25:56,960 --> 00:25:59,800 Speaker 1: of gratitude in your heart for the country that we 444 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:03,800 Speaker 1: of in the lifestyles we've been blessed with the freedoms 445 00:26:03,840 --> 00:26:09,160 Speaker 1: we enjoy, saying thank you in a tangible way. It's 446 00:26:09,200 --> 00:26:11,639 Speaker 1: one thing, you know. I always walk up whenever I 447 00:26:11,680 --> 00:26:17,520 Speaker 1: see anybody in uniform, anybody, firefighter, police officer, military person. 448 00:26:18,040 --> 00:26:21,160 Speaker 1: I always try to walk over and say thank you. 449 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:25,280 Speaker 1: I appreciate the sacrifices you make, and that might hopefully 450 00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:29,520 Speaker 1: touch their heart for a minute. But if you truly 451 00:26:29,600 --> 00:26:33,080 Speaker 1: want to put your love in action, and you truly 452 00:26:33,720 --> 00:26:37,600 Speaker 1: want to say thank you, what a beautiful way to 453 00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:40,840 Speaker 1: do it. Two cups of coffee a month I drink, 454 00:26:41,000 --> 00:26:43,960 Speaker 1: you know, I drink dirty chai latte is about once 455 00:26:43,960 --> 00:26:47,680 Speaker 1: a week. I don't drink coffee. I'm a tea drinker. 456 00:26:48,040 --> 00:26:50,840 Speaker 1: But about once a week I might treat myself and 457 00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:55,119 Speaker 1: go through a coffee stand. And if I decided not 458 00:26:55,200 --> 00:26:59,120 Speaker 1: to do that, that would be about twenty bucks a month. 459 00:26:59,680 --> 00:27:03,840 Speaker 1: Bucks a month that I could easily and never even 460 00:27:03,920 --> 00:27:08,719 Speaker 1: miss never you never miss it. And and people can 461 00:27:08,760 --> 00:27:11,520 Speaker 1: watch when we delivered these house, they could say I 462 00:27:11,640 --> 00:27:15,199 Speaker 1: was part of that. It's that's how the beauty of it. 463 00:27:15,359 --> 00:27:21,199 Speaker 1: I helped give this military guys family who died for 464 00:27:21,280 --> 00:27:24,840 Speaker 1: our country a votygage free home. Or I helped this 465 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:28,800 Speaker 1: firefighter who ran up a building and fell through a 466 00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:33,080 Speaker 1: floor and died left kids behind. I helped pay their mortgage. 467 00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:36,520 Speaker 1: Speaking of kids, how are Steven's kids? You said he 468 00:27:36,600 --> 00:27:40,760 Speaker 1: had five there, They're great kids, the great individuals so 469 00:27:40,840 --> 00:27:43,359 Speaker 1: we're blessing that. But listen, they were fortunate, they were 470 00:27:43,359 --> 00:27:46,080 Speaker 1: surrounded by a lot of love. On My sister in 471 00:27:46,160 --> 00:27:50,240 Speaker 1: law's family is phenomenal, and they've stepped up. They've just 472 00:27:50,320 --> 00:27:53,119 Speaker 1: been terrific. And you know, as far as our family 473 00:27:53,200 --> 00:27:55,679 Speaker 1: is concerned, with such pain, the asses, you couldn't get 474 00:27:55,720 --> 00:27:59,320 Speaker 1: rid of us, even if even if you so, you know, 475 00:27:59,560 --> 00:28:02,040 Speaker 1: we said to say we knew the routine because we 476 00:28:02,119 --> 00:28:04,439 Speaker 1: know that. You know, when Stephen went through when he 477 00:28:04,480 --> 00:28:07,080 Speaker 1: was a little boy. Now now his kids have to 478 00:28:07,080 --> 00:28:12,200 Speaker 1: go through that. But how many lives has your brother's 479 00:28:12,240 --> 00:28:17,800 Speaker 1: life in the sacrifice he made impacted. I I agree 480 00:28:17,800 --> 00:28:20,360 Speaker 1: with you. It's incredible. And one day he'll he will 481 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:22,719 Speaker 1: be joined with a lot of special people, there's no 482 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:25,280 Speaker 1: question about it. In the meantime, we got a whole 483 00:28:25,320 --> 00:28:26,960 Speaker 1: lot of living to do and a whole lot of 484 00:28:26,960 --> 00:28:33,600 Speaker 1: houses to build. Exactly, So T the number two T tunnel, 485 00:28:34,520 --> 00:28:37,159 Speaker 1: two towers dot org. But you go to T the 486 00:28:37,280 --> 00:28:40,600 Speaker 1: number two T dot org, T the number two T 487 00:28:41,480 --> 00:28:45,120 Speaker 1: dot org. All right, Well, hopefully many many people will say, 488 00:28:45,160 --> 00:28:47,800 Speaker 1: you know what, I don't need that coffee. I'm gonna 489 00:28:47,920 --> 00:28:50,880 Speaker 1: donate eleven dollars a month or maybe they'll say I 490 00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:54,000 Speaker 1: lost my brother, I lost my sister, I lost my mom, 491 00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:57,560 Speaker 1: and the their their memory. I'm going to donate my 492 00:28:58,160 --> 00:29:00,560 Speaker 1: coffee every week, but I'm gonna also step up and 493 00:29:00,600 --> 00:29:04,120 Speaker 1: donate one for mom or dad. Think how many houses 494 00:29:04,160 --> 00:29:06,920 Speaker 1: we could build in we I'm already a part of it. 495 00:29:06,960 --> 00:29:10,080 Speaker 1: We like it. I like the way you're saying that, 496 00:29:10,800 --> 00:29:14,400 Speaker 1: but that's exactly what I want. I want everyone to 497 00:29:14,520 --> 00:29:18,400 Speaker 1: take ownership and say we delivered this house. That's what 498 00:29:18,520 --> 00:29:22,320 Speaker 1: I want. It is not about just my brother, It's 499 00:29:22,360 --> 00:29:25,600 Speaker 1: about the people we help. And if everybody comes together, 500 00:29:25,800 --> 00:29:30,440 Speaker 1: we as a contry, we can take care of the 501 00:29:30,480 --> 00:29:33,920 Speaker 1: greatest of all Americans. Here. Here's the thing. I think 502 00:29:33,960 --> 00:29:38,120 Speaker 1: a lot of people feel helpless right now watching things 503 00:29:38,200 --> 00:29:41,960 Speaker 1: go on around us that are just mind boggling, and 504 00:29:42,040 --> 00:29:45,360 Speaker 1: a lot of us feel frustrated because we are powerless 505 00:29:45,840 --> 00:29:50,680 Speaker 1: to do anything. But by doing this, by joining your efforts, 506 00:29:51,040 --> 00:29:54,120 Speaker 1: by making a donation, by getting involved, by doing the runs, 507 00:29:54,160 --> 00:29:58,800 Speaker 1: by sponsoring a run, how many people listening to my 508 00:29:58,920 --> 00:30:00,400 Speaker 1: voice and say you know what I do that I 509 00:30:00,720 --> 00:30:04,800 Speaker 1: could organize twenty of my best friends and we could 510 00:30:04,800 --> 00:30:08,320 Speaker 1: do a nine eleven run, and we could raise money. 511 00:30:08,480 --> 00:30:12,080 Speaker 1: We could ask for pledges, we could get our kids involved. 512 00:30:12,200 --> 00:30:15,320 Speaker 1: We could have our kids do uh an obstacle course 513 00:30:15,480 --> 00:30:18,600 Speaker 1: at the farm, and we could raise money. They could 514 00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:22,840 Speaker 1: get pledges and we could donate that too, tunnel to 515 00:30:23,000 --> 00:30:27,040 Speaker 1: towers and impact the lives of our first responders. It's 516 00:30:27,040 --> 00:30:32,400 Speaker 1: a it's a really sweet way to feel empowered to 517 00:30:32,480 --> 00:30:35,920 Speaker 1: make a difference, and it's a great way to get 518 00:30:35,960 --> 00:30:38,920 Speaker 1: your family two as kids that don't even know about 519 00:30:38,960 --> 00:30:41,960 Speaker 1: what happened on nine eleven, it's a dautiful thing everything. 520 00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:47,120 Speaker 1: And look, kids are magnificent. You give them an opportunity 521 00:30:47,200 --> 00:30:49,320 Speaker 1: to do something good, they're gonna do it. But they 522 00:30:49,320 --> 00:30:52,120 Speaker 1: only take the lead from their parents. And as parents, 523 00:30:52,200 --> 00:30:54,680 Speaker 1: we better make sure and grandparents that we set a 524 00:30:54,680 --> 00:30:57,320 Speaker 1: good example, that we take care of the people that 525 00:30:57,400 --> 00:30:59,800 Speaker 1: give us this country. As you said earlier, Delilah, right 526 00:30:59,800 --> 00:31:01,880 Speaker 1: we live in this great country is because we are 527 00:31:01,920 --> 00:31:05,040 Speaker 1: beautiful people that protect us, that give us this way 528 00:31:05,040 --> 00:31:08,000 Speaker 1: of life. And it comes a price with that and 529 00:31:08,280 --> 00:31:11,520 Speaker 1: price in some cases are paid by the ultimate sacrifice. 530 00:31:12,120 --> 00:31:14,719 Speaker 1: And we better take care of these families. It's that simple. 531 00:31:15,040 --> 00:31:19,480 Speaker 1: T the number two T dot org go there now. 532 00:31:19,720 --> 00:31:22,240 Speaker 1: As soon as you finished listening to this podcast t 533 00:31:22,600 --> 00:31:26,560 Speaker 1: the number two t dot org and be a blessing 534 00:31:26,640 --> 00:31:29,800 Speaker 1: and impact someone's lives. Thank you, thank you, Thank you, Frank. 535 00:31:29,840 --> 00:31:33,080 Speaker 1: Thank you for being here with us. Thank you. It 536 00:31:33,160 --> 00:31:35,600 Speaker 1: was beautiful. Hopefully we do this again one day, all right, 537 00:31:35,600 --> 00:31:40,480 Speaker 1: thank you night. Twenty years ago seems like a long time, 538 00:31:40,560 --> 00:31:42,640 Speaker 1: but for those who were there, for those who lost 539 00:31:42,680 --> 00:31:45,760 Speaker 1: their loved ones, their friends, their co workers, their neighbors, 540 00:31:46,200 --> 00:31:49,520 Speaker 1: or their brother, that day is vivid and wrong. For 541 00:31:49,560 --> 00:31:53,080 Speaker 1: America and for the world, our trust in our fellow 542 00:31:53,080 --> 00:31:56,920 Speaker 1: man was shaken. Frank and those who worked tirelessly to 543 00:31:56,960 --> 00:32:01,960 Speaker 1: support not only not only the first responders families from 544 00:32:02,040 --> 00:32:05,720 Speaker 1: nine eleven, but our military and our first responders today 545 00:32:05,760 --> 00:32:10,360 Speaker 1: are doing their part to revive our trust and goodness 546 00:32:10,480 --> 00:32:15,280 Speaker 1: and hope, because while we will never forget the tragedies 547 00:32:15,320 --> 00:32:18,600 Speaker 1: of nine eleven, we also must never stop believing that 548 00:32:18,800 --> 00:32:23,520 Speaker 1: love wins. Frank sat down with me just before he 549 00:32:23,560 --> 00:32:28,440 Speaker 1: embarked upon his commemorative never Forget Walk, a five hundred 550 00:32:28,440 --> 00:32:31,680 Speaker 1: mile journey that will see him trekking through six states 551 00:32:31,760 --> 00:32:34,800 Speaker 1: in six weeks time. He kicked it off on August 552 00:32:34,840 --> 00:32:37,960 Speaker 1: one at the Pentagon in Washington, d C. And is 553 00:32:37,960 --> 00:32:41,040 Speaker 1: now twenty four days into his mission that will also 554 00:32:41,080 --> 00:32:44,600 Speaker 1: take him through Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and will end up at 555 00:32:44,680 --> 00:32:48,400 Speaker 1: Ground Zero in New York City on September eleven. He'll 556 00:32:48,480 --> 00:32:52,720 Speaker 1: be joined by gold Star and Fallen first responder family members, 557 00:32:52,880 --> 00:32:59,200 Speaker 1: nine eleven family members, firefighters, law enforcement, veterans, dignitaries, and 558 00:32:59,280 --> 00:33:02,880 Speaker 1: others along the route. In the final segment on nine 559 00:33:02,960 --> 00:33:08,440 Speaker 1: eleven one, Frank will retrace his brother's footsteps as he 560 00:33:08,560 --> 00:33:12,480 Speaker 1: raced towards the Towers twenty years ago. I am so 561 00:33:12,600 --> 00:33:16,240 Speaker 1: grateful to Frank and those like him who take it 562 00:33:16,320 --> 00:33:20,840 Speaker 1: upon themselves to do good. When we first started the conversation, 563 00:33:20,920 --> 00:33:24,160 Speaker 1: he said he wants to do good. You can to 564 00:33:24,240 --> 00:33:28,800 Speaker 1: learn more about Tunnel to Towers Foundation t the number 565 00:33:28,840 --> 00:33:33,240 Speaker 1: two t T two t dot org followed Tunnel to 566 00:33:33,360 --> 00:33:38,120 Speaker 1: Towers on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram at Tunnel two Towers. Thank 567 00:33:38,160 --> 00:33:40,360 Speaker 1: you for taking the time to be with us today 568 00:33:40,560 --> 00:33:43,920 Speaker 1: as we told Stephen's story. Join me here on Love 569 00:33:44,080 --> 00:33:46,760 Speaker 1: Someone next time, and on the air each and every night. 570 00:33:47,120 --> 00:33:49,360 Speaker 1: You know, I'm on the air every night right where 571 00:33:49,360 --> 00:33:51,960 Speaker 1: I do my best to shine a light of love 572 00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:55,720 Speaker 1: into dark corners to soothe some aching hearts. And to 573 00:33:55,880 --> 00:33:59,600 Speaker 1: ask you to remind you to reach out and love 574 00:33:59,680 --> 00:34:08,600 Speaker 1: some den I love