Canyon Lake on pace for blue September 11

BY Dawn Rankins

The Canyon Lake 9/11 Tribute in Light Committee continues to work on making sure everything is in order for the somber Tribute in Lights Commemoration next Saturday night. The committee is encouraging everyone in the community to light up their homes in blue and at 9:11 p.m to step out of their homes for a moment of silence.

Ilyssa Esgar is the head of the committee and continues to say, “I am so proud of this commUNITY!”

Canyon Lake 9/11 commemorative T-shirts can be purchased for a minimum donation of $7.00 at Pack, Wrap and Post in the Canyon Lake Town Center.

“Canyon Lakers will never forget and the committee continues to express its gratitude for all the overwhelming support,” Ilyssa said. “Just in donations alone, we’ve raised over $2,000 for the T2T charity. So many have already lit up their homes in blue.”

The committee will acknowledge and present gift certificates to the Canyon Lake residents who display the most creative lights at their homes. Lights must be blue for this event, Ilyssa said.

The 9/11 Tribute in Light Committee continues to seek gift certificate donations of any amount from Canyon Lake businesses to give to the most creative homes.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to earn funds for the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

Stephen Siller was a firefighter assigned to Brooklyn’s Squad 1. On Sept. 11, 2001, Stephen finished his shift and was on his way to play golf with his brothers when he got word on his scanner that the North Tower of the World Trade Center had been hit by a plane.

Stephen went back to Squad 1, got into his gear and proceeded to drive his truck to the entrance of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, but due to security, it was already closed. Stephen, who was determined to help those at the twin towers, strapped his 60 pounds of gear to his back and raced on foot through the tunnel to the towers, where he gave his life while saving others.

Stephen left behind a wife and five children, along with other family and friends. Stephen lived by the inspirational words of St. Francis of Assisi, “while we have time, let us do good.”

“Stephen’s life, along with so many others who lost their lives on 9/11, can serve as a reminder to everyone to live life to the fullest and spend time doing good,” Ilyssa said. “Together, we will honor and support those who have and continue to be impacted by the events of 9/11.”