Tunnel to Towers Commemorates 25 Years Since 9/11, Honors Nation’s Heroes at the West Los Angeles Veterans Campus

The tour will next visit Frank Hotchkin Memorial Training Center in Los Angeles, California on June 30. 

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA [June 28, 2026] — On Saturday, June 28th, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s ‘Steel Across America’ tour visited the West LA Veterans Campus in Los Angeles, California. 

For the twentieth stop on a nationwide tour in honor of the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Steel Across America brought a steel beam recovered from the World Trade Center to Los Angeles, offering veterans, community members, and guests of the West LA Veterans Campus a rare opportunity to experience this sacred artifact firsthand. The steel beam arrived via police and fire escort before doors opened to welcome attendees for the morning ceremony. 

The program was hosted by Tunnel to Towers Foundation Board Member Brad Blakeman, who welcomed guests and guided the day’s proceedings. The ceremony opened with a Color Guard presentation and Pipes & Drums Procession, followed by a performance of the National Anthem. 

Blakeman then introduced the invocation and blessing of the steel before formally introducing the steel beam and its significance as a physical embodiment of the nation’s promise to Never Forget. Blakeman lead the audience in a moment of silent reflection in honor of those lost on September 11, 2001, oversaw the retirement of colors, then delivered welcome remarks and introduced Tunnel to Towers’ Executive Vice President of Development Eric Cortina. 

Cortina took the stage to deliver remarks, recognizing the sponsors, supporters, dignitaries, and community partners whose generosity and dedication made the day’s events possible. 

Blakeman then introduced Stephen Siller Jr., son of fallen FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller, who reflected on his father’s legacy, the meaning of the West LA Veterans Campus as a place of healing and honor for those who have served, and the mission that drives the Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s cross-country journey. 

“The men and women who call the West LA Veterans Campus home have given everything for this country. My father gave everything, too,” said Stephen Siller Jr., son of fallen FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller. “Steel Across America is about making sure that the courage and sacrifice of every hero, every first responder, every veteran, every Gold Star family, is never reduced to a footnote. We carry this steel across the country so that America never forgets what it looks like when someone dedicates their life to service.” 

Brad delivered closing remarks thanks attendees for joining the tour stop and reminding them of the shared responsibility to ensure that the sacrifices made on September 11th and in the years that followed are never forgotten. Guests were invited to enjoy a catered lunch from Grill Team Six and the Guy Fieri Foundation food trucks.  

Following the formal program, the steel beam was made available for viewing and reflection throughout the afternoon.  

The steel is an everlasting reminder of the selfless courage and service of first responders who gave their lives on September 11, 2001, including New York City firefighter Stephen Siller. Recovered from Ground Zero in the days following the attacks by the thousands of first responders who answered the call, the beam stands as a symbol of sacrifice, resilience, and the unbreakable American spirit that emerged from tragedy. 

The media kit containing photo and video assets from this event in Los Angeles can be found here. 

On June 30^th, Steel Across America will make its next official stop at the Frank Hotchkin Memorial Training Center in Los Angeles, California.