PRESS RELEASE: Tunnel to Towers Chairman Frank Siller to be Awarded 2021 Genesis Legacy Medal

Philanthropist, Veterans Advocate to Be Honored During

2021 Purple Heart Patriot Project Event in New York

(NEWBURGH, NY) – Recognizing his decades of service to America’s catastrophically injured veterans, Gold Star and first responder families, the National Purple Heart Honor Mission, is proud to announce that Frank Siller, Chairman and CEO of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, will be a recipient of the 2021 Genesis Legacy Medal. Siller, joins commentator and Purple Heart recipient USMC Staff Sergeant Johnny Joey Jones (Ret.) as this year’s honorees. The Genesis Legacy Medal will be presented at a dinner honoring our nation’s Purple Heart heroes at Federal Hall in New York on September 28, 2021.

Siller founded the Tunnel to Towers Foundation in honor of his brother, FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller, who laid down his life while saving others on September 11, 2001.

While visiting U.S. Army SGT Brendan Marrocco, the first quadruple-amputee to survive after losing all four limbs in combat, at Walter Reed, Siller offered to build him a mortgage-free smart home designed for his needs.

SGT Marrocco’s home was completed in 2011 and it led to the creation of the Tunnel to Towers Smart Home Program, which builds adaptive smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans across the country.

“Our smart homes help our nation’s injured veterans reclaim their day-to-day independence. I am honored to receive the National Purple Heart Honor Mission's Genesis Legacy Medal for the Foundation’s work to help these heroes who sacrificed so much for the freedoms we enjoy every day,” said Frank Siller, CEO and Chairman of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation also provides mortgage-free homes to Gold Star families and the families left behind when a first responder is killed in the line of duty.

By the end of 2021 the Foundation will deliver 450 mortgage-free homes across the country to those who continue to risk life and limb to keep us safe at home and abroad.

“The events of September 11, 2001 fundamentally altered our nation’s history and the lives of millions of Americans. Inspired by his brother’s heroism, Frank Siller turned unspeakable tragedy into an opportunity to help all those who sacrifice for our nation,” said National Purple Heart Honor Mission Chairman Richard Lay, a Purple Heart recipient and Vietnam War veteran. “Just like our Purple Heart heroes, Frank and his team continue to be an inspiration to millions of Americans. As the nation’s premiere Purple Heart tribute organization, we are honored to recognize Frank for everything he has done to ensure our combat wounded heroes are able to live their lives to the fullest and their stories are never forgotten.”

“Stephen Siller’s actions on September 11, 2001 demonstrate the sense of duty millions of Americans felt in the wake of the devastating attacks on our nation. Frank admirably used his brother’s story of sacrifice to ensure our Purple Heart heroes, Gold Star families and our first responders know this nation is truly grateful,” said Col. Russell Vernon (Ret.), Executive Director for the National Purple Heart Honor Mission.

Siller has received numerous honors for his work with the Foundation including being named an Honorary Battalion Chief by the FDNY, and awarded the Department of the Army Commanders Award for Public Service in 2015.

Named for the four visionaries who conceived of and help build the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, the Genesis Legacy Medal is awarded every year to a prominent Purple Heart recipient and a non-Purple Heart veteran or civilian who have exhibited exemplary service to our nation and/or our veterans’ community. The annual gala dinner is part of the Purple Heart Patriot Project Mission, which will bring Purple Heart recipients from each state in the nation to New York, the birthplace of the Badge of Military Merit.

Past recipients of the Genesis Legacy Medal have included: former U.S. Senator Bob Dole, former New York State Governor George Pataki, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth and others. U.S. Army General David Perkins and U.S. Marine Corps Corporal Megan Leavey were the award recipients in 2019. Funds from the event go toward a range of tribute programs administered by the Honor Mission.

This year’s Purple Heart Patriot Project mission is scheduled for the week of September 27, 2021. The Patriot Project is a multi-day salute to service that brings together Purple Heart heroes representing each U.S. state to pay tribute to their courage and sacrifice. One Purple Heart recipient and an escort of their choosing from each state in the nation receive an all-expenses-paid trip to New York, West Point, the Hall of Honor and a week filled with tours and ceremonies honoring their service and all those who have earned the Purple Heart.

Honorees for the 2021 Purple Heart Patriot Project were announced on Veterans Day 2020.

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ABOUT THE NATIONAL PURPLE HEART HONOR MISSION

The National Purple Heart Honor Mission is an approved 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which supports a variety of programs to promote the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, pay tribute to our Purple Heart recipients, and educate all Americans about our combat-wounded veterans to ensure those who sacrificed for freedom are never forgotten. Learn more and support their efforts at www.PurpleHeartMission.org.

ABOUT THE TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation is dedicated to honoring the sacrifice of FDNY Firefighter Stephen Siller, who laid down his life to save others on September 11, 2001. For 20 years the Foundation has supported our nation’s first responders, veterans, and their families by providing these heroes and the families they leave behind with mortgage-free homes. For more about the Tunnel to Towers Foundation and its commitment to DO GOOD, please visit T2T.org.

Follow Tunnel to Towers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @Tunnel2Towers.