A New York City charity founded in memory of a firefighter who died on 9/11 announced it plans to pay off the mortgage of fallen Worcester Fire Lt. Jason Menard by Christmas.
The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation formally announced the initiative during a press conference at the McKeon Road Fire Station Friday morning. Siller, an NYFD firefighter who lost his life during 9/11, would have turned 53 on Friday.
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“Lt. Menard gave up his life to save the lives of his fellow firefighters, going back into the flames to make sure they got out safely. Lt. Menard, like my brother Stephen, ran towards danger thinking only about the lives he could save, not what could happen to him,” Frank Siller, chairman and CEO of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, said in a statement.
Menard, 39, died battling a 4-alarm house fire in Worcester early Wednesday morning. Officials said he helped save two fellow firefighters before becoming trapped on the home’s third floor.
He leaves behind a wife, Tina, and three children.
Since 2015, the foundation’s Fallen First Responder Home Program has helped the families of 40 first responders with young children stay in their homes.
Last year, the charity supported the family of Weymouth Police Sgt. Michael Chesna, who was killed in the line of duty in July 2018. Through donations from around the country, the foundation was able to pay off his family’s mortgage.
Chesna’s widow, Cindy, will be at Friday’s announcement.
Frank Siller told The Boston Globe that he hopes the charity will be able to pay off the Mernard family’s mortgage by Christmas.
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