9/11 Never Forget Memorial Arrives in Waupun
9/11 ORGANIZATION ANNOUNCES PLANS TO PAY OFF MORTGAGE ON FAMILY HOME OF SLAIN APPLETON FIREFIGHTER
Announcement comes as Foundation’s 9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit Arrives at Celebrate Waupun
The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, established in memory of a FDNY firefighter who laid down his life on September 11, 2001, announced today it will pay off the mortgage on the home of slain Appleton Firefighter Mitchell Lundgaard.
In addition to supporting the families of first responders, part of the Foundation’s mission is to ensure that Americans never forget the sacrifices first responders made on September 11, 2001. To pass these lessons to the next generation, the Foundation’s 9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit, a high-tech, 53-foot tractor-trailer that transforms into a 1,000 square foot exhibit, will be in Waupun, Wisconsin for the Celebrate Waupun festival.
To coincide with the Exhibit's arrival in Wisconsin the Foundation is announcing its plans to pay off the Lundgaard family's mortgage.
The 36-year-old Lundgaard was killed in the line of duty on May 15, when an individual they were attempting to help opened fire on first responders.
“This senseless death underscores the dangers our first responders face every day. They answer every call trying to save lives – knowing they risk losing their own,” Tunnel to Towers CEO and Chairman Frank Siller said. “Now, it is our responsibility to step up and take care of this family and make sure they know we have their backs.”
Lundgaard dedicated his life to his community and his family – he was a 14-year veteran of the Appleton Fire Department who married his high school sweetheart, Lindsey, in 2006. The couple has three young sons: Evan, Logan, and Ryan. Upon hearing she would never have to make another mortgage payment, Lindsey said, "Tunnel to Towers taking over my mortgage is amazing. It allows me to focus on my children and grieving the loss of my husband. It is truly amazing."
Lundgaard was deeply moved by the September 11 attacks. He was a sophomore as an Architecture Major at UWM when America was attacked. The next year, he left college to go to school at a Technical College in Milwaukee to pursue a new career in Fire Science. “He never looked back and LOVED being a firefighter,” his wife Lindsey said.
“While it won’t ever replace Mitch it certainly will help secure the family’s future. On behalf of the Appleton Fire Department family, thank you,” said Appleton Fire Chief Jeremy Hansen. The Foundation’s gift will lift the financial burden of the mortgage and will allow the money already raised to go to the family’s future needs.
Tunnel to Towers is accepting donations to help pay off the mortgage All of the donations made to the family will go directly to this effort. The Foundation invites everyone to go to tunnel2towers.org and join us in our mission.
The 9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit Will be on Display at Celebrate Waupun, June 29 & 30, from Noon to 8:00 P.M. The Media is invited to attend a ceremonial ribbon cutting before the Exhibit opens. The Opening Ceremony Saturday, June 29, at 11 A.M. and members of the media can take an exclusive tour of the exhibit before it opens to the public. The Exhibit is located at Celebrate Waupun, 510 E. Spring Street, Waupun, WI 53963
• The 9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit features:
• World Trade Center steel, aluminum façade, and granite from the buildings
• Audio tapes of firefighters discussing what they will need to conquer the fire,
• Artifacts including a panel of a fire truck, a bunker coat of fallen firefighter John McAvoy, and personal memorabilia discovered in the rubble after the buildings collapsed
• Exhibit tours, FREE to the public, are conducted by firefighters who were eyewitnesses to history who will share their perspective on what happened that fateful day
About the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation
The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Tower Foundation's mission is to honor the sacrifice of FDNY Firefighter Stephen Siller, who laid down his life to save others on September 11, 2001. To date, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation has spent over $125 million to honor and support our first responders and veterans and their families.
Since 2015, the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s Fallen First Responder Home Program has ensured that first responder families with young children have been able to stay in their homes.
For more about the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, please visit tunnel2towers.org.
###
CONTACTS:
Mortgage Payoff: Trevor Tamsen Trevor.Tamsen@tunnel2towers.org 916-524-0941
9/11 Exhibit: B.J. DeMaa bjdemaa@waupunpd.org 920-324-7910
