“Where were you when the world stopped turnin'
That September day?”
-- Alan Jackson

It’s been almost 20 years since that horrific day on 9/11/2001 when two planes hijacked by terrorists struck the Twin Towers in New York City causing them to collapse.  2,977 lives were lost that day as a result.

Do you remember where you were that day when you received the news?  I was in a waiting room at Providence Hospital.  Everyone in the room was watching the lone television in the room in horror and disbelief.

Stephen Siller, a firefighter for Brooklyn’s Squad 1, had just finished a shift and was on his way to play golf when he received news of a plane hitting the North Tower of the World Trade Center.  He immediately returned to Squad 1 to get his gear.  He drove his truck to Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, put on his gear, and got out on foot to help others when he lost his life as the buildings collapsed.

“He died the way he lived, serving others,” said Stephen’s brother, Frank Siller.  “If given the choice all over again he would run through that tunnel and give up his life for others, I have no doubt in my head and my heart.  He would do it again.”

Frank, 68, recently began a 500-mile walk in memory of his brother.  He is calling it his “Never Forget Walk.”  He began his six-week journey at Arlington Fire Station 5 in Washington, D.C.  He plans to travel through six states ending at Ground Zero to honor the nearly 3,000 lives lost that day, including his brother’s.  “My personal goal is to make sure people never forget,” Siller told FOX News. 

Frank founded the Tunnel to Towers Foundation in honor of his brother.  The non-profit foundation builds mortgage free homes for injured veterans and first responders and for families who lost a loved one in the line of duty.

May we never forget another walk that another Person took that culminated in Him giving His life for others.  The walk took place on the road to Calvary.  The One who walked on that road carrying His own cross was Jesus, the sinless Son of God.  The walk ended at the hill called Golgotha, where Jesus was crucified for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2).  That place was Ground Zero where heaven and hell met.  Jesus gave His life as payment for the sins of the world.  Three days later, He arose triumphantly from the grave!  Heaven defeated Satan!

Jesus died the way He lived, serving others.  “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).  Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection provided our victory over sin and death, if we will only accept His offer on His terms.

God will save and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9).

There are walks made to never forget the sacrifice of others.  May we never forget the walk that Jesus made to Ground Zero where He gave His life for us so that we might live.

-- David A. Sargent

* Information gleaned from “Brother of FDNY firefighter who died 9/11 walks more than 500 miles in his honor” by Jeanette Settembre of Fox News, www.foxnews.com.

David A. Sargent, Minister

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

Archived issues of Living Water can be viewed and accessed from our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org