9/11 Nonprofit Pays Lt. Jason Menard's Mortgage

From the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation: The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, named after a fallen 9/11 firefighter, announced the mortgage on the home of Worcester Lieutenant Firefighter Jason Menard has been paid in full. The announcement comes just five weeks after the Foundation first promised to pay off the family’s mortgage, during a Nov. 15 news conference at the Worcester Fire Department.

Lt. Menard, 39, lost his life on Nov. 13 while responding to a four-alarm fire in Worcester. He heroically rescued two of his fellow firefighters before he became trapped on the third floor of the home. He left behind his wife, Tina, and their three young children, Joshua, Hailee, and Morgan. But thanks to his heroic actions, Worcester Firefighter Christopher Pace’s life was saved. He was released from the hospital in late November and able to go home to his wife who is expecting their second child.

“The Worcester department lost a great firefighter a good man, a great fire officer, but that pales in comparison to what the family has lost. Tina lost her husband and Jason’s three children lost a father. The least we can do for them is to relieve their financial burden. It’s amazing the support we get. I wish we didn’t have to do this again, but again all I can say is thank you very much and God bless,” said Worcester Fire Department Chief Michael Lavoie.

Menard’s death came at a particularly cruel time of the year for the Worcester Fire Department. It was already in preparations to mark the 20th anniversary of the Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Co. fire, which killed six firefighters on December 3rd, 1999.

This is the 21st home in the Foundation’s Season of Hope, during which it will give away a home every day from now until Christmas Eve.

“Every day, brave men and women like Lt. Menard are putting their lives on the line, rushing into harm’s way in order to keep the rest of us safe. It is clear that the people of Massachusetts and the people of America recognize and respect that. Because of their generous donations, we are able to provide some peace of mind to Lt. Menard’s wife and children, just in time for the holidays. We cannot replace what they have lost, but they will never have to worry about their home again,” said Tunnel to Towers Chairman and CEO Frank Siller.

Since 2015, the Foundation’s Fallen First Responder Home Program has been ensuring first responder families with young children have been able to stay in their homes.

Last year, the Foundation supported the family of another fallen first responder from Massachusetts, Weymouth Police Sgt. Michael Chesna, who was killed in the line of duty on July 15, 2018. The Foundation paid off the mortgage on the home of Sgt. Chena’s wife, Cindy, and their two children.

This press release was produced by the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation. The views expressed here are the author's own.