N. Kingstown Welcomes First Sept. 11 Memorial Run

More than 160 residents, firefighters and avid runners hit the pavement in Quonset today to welcome the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Run to Rhode Island.

Earlier this summer, North Kingstown was chosen as one of nearly 50 satellite sites to host the 5K race, which has been held in New York City every year since its inception, in remembrance of the 10^th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Though most race participants donned traditional race gear, a handful of firefighters opted for their firefighting gear in honor of New York City firefighter Stephen Siller, who died on Sept. 11 while responding to the World Trade Center. Siller, who was just getting off work at the time, carried 60 pounds of his firefighting gear through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel toward the World Trade Center.

“You get tired wearing the gear but you think of the firefighters who went to the towers and ran up dozens and dozens of stairs wearing that gear and never came home,” said Jason Erban of the Warwick Fire Department, who wore his gear and finished with a time of 22:05. “Wearing our gear is a great testament to them.”

For North Kingstown Fire Department’s Local 1651 Union President Ray Furtado, the turnout for the event met expectations.

“I had wanted between 150 and 200 people for this and we’re right about there,” said Furtado, who adds that they hope to host the event again next year. “For the first year without much notice it’s still good. We’re very pleased.”

Fire department members from Hopkins Hill in Coventry, Cranston, Warwick, Woonsocket and North Kingstown participated in the race.

Finishing first overall was William Sanders, 24, of Connecticut with a time of 15:24, followed North Kingstown's Mary Najarian, 21, with 18:36.