Michigan Remembers 9-11 Fund

MichiganRemembers.org was set up to remember those from Michigan, and those with strong ties to Michigan, that lost their lives during the attacks on 9-11. Even though the state is miles away from where any of the attacks happened, many Michiganders were directly touched by the events of the day. As the tenth anniversary of 9-11 approaches, the site hopes to hear from as many people as possible.

I had the opportunity to speak with Scott Watkins, a co-founder of Michigan Remembers 9-11, and a trustee of the fund. In 2001, he was working directly with Patrick Anderson, the CEO of Anderson Economic Group, and economist Ikhan Geckil. Both of these men were staying in the Marriott inside of the World Trade Center. Both survived the attacks. Scott knew that others in Michigan had ties as well and worked to start the fund and website…

Read More – on Yahoo! News

By swatkins @ 5:57 PM

EAST LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Remembers 9-11 Fund and Jam for Vets charities are hosting a 5k walk/run on September 11, 2011 on Detroit’s Belle Isle. Proceeds will support sending two Michigan first responders and veterans to New York City as our state’s representatives in the national Tunnel to Towers 5k on September 25th. The national run is a symbolic event to remember the victims that perished on September 11, 2001, and to honor the 343 firefighters, police officers, and port authority officers, and other first responders who gave their lives trying to save as many people as possible.

Representing Michigan in New York City will be Oakland County Sheriff Deputies Brian Salenik and Shawn Wilson. Deputy Salenik, of South Lyon, is a detective with the Oakland County Fire Investigations Unit. He served at the National Security Agency after the 9/11 attacks. He is retired from the Army National Guard, having served in Desert Storm. Sheriff Deputy Wilson is a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps, and currently serves as a reservist. Currently living in Ferndale, he has completed two tours in Iraq. He traveled to New York City to help with the rescue efforts at ground zero in 2001.

Salenik and Wilson will also participate in the Detroit Tunnel to Towers event on Belle Isle on September 11. They will be recognized in a ceremony prior to the race. The ceremony will also include a moment of silence at 8:46am to mark the time that the first plane struck with towers, and a reading of the names of the 18 victims from Michigan who died in the September 11, 2001 attacks.

The Detroit walk/run will begin at 9am, with registration and race number pickup beginning at 7am.

For more information, or to arrange an interview with Mr. Salenik or Mr. Wilson, please contact Susan Moriarty at the Michigan Remembers 9-11 Fund.

About the Race Organizers
The Stephen Siller Foundation was established to honor the memory of New York firefighter Stephen Siller, who was a father of five. After completing a night shift he was on his way to play golf when the first plane hit the WTC. He returned to Squad 1 to get his gear, and then took his final heroic steps. With sixty pounds of gear strapped to his back, he ran approximately 3 miles through the Battery Tunnel to the WTC.

The Michigan Remembers 9-11 Fund was founded in 2006 by World Towers attack survivor Patrick Anderson and his friend Scott Watkins. The Fund memorializes those with ties to Michigan whose lives were lost on September 11, 2001, and those who risked their lives to aid those affected by the tragedy. Jam for Vets is a non-profit that raises funds through musical events and donated musical services to support charitable organizations that aid U.S. military members who have been injured in the service of their country.

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