This August, the quiet town of Easton opened its heart and streets to a powerful national tribute—the Tunnel to Towers “9/11 Never Forget” Mobile Exhibit. Parked outside the Congregational Church of Easton on August 8 and 9, the 83-foot tractor-trailer turned mobile museum stood as a display and a solemn reminder of heroism, sacrifice, and the enduring impact of September 11, 2001.
A Tribute on Wheels
As visitors stepped inside the expanded trailer, they were transported into the story of 9/11 through recovered steel from the World Trade Center, artifacts from the rubble, and audio recordings capturing the frantic, courageous voices of first responders. For many, it wasn’t just a history lesson but a profoundly personal and emotional experience.
The presence of retired first responders who served on that fateful day sets this exhibit apart from static museum displays. These men didn’t just give guided tours—they shared stories. Real stories. Stories of running into the burning towers. Of lost friends. Of surviving when others didn’t. Young and old visitors listened in reverent silence as these firsthand accounts vividly brought the events of 9/11 to life. And they learned about the incredible array of projects that the Tunnel to Towers Foundation runs in honor of those who gave their lives and limbs to protect others. These include their Smart Home, Fallen Responder, and Gold Star Home Programs, offering fully paid residences to those wounded in combat and those family members left behind after a loved one’s loss in the line of duty. Many were surprised to learn that the foundation also recently surpassed a benchmark of housing over 10,000 homeless veterans nationwide.
A Community Comes Together
What started as a casual conversation at the Tunnel to Towers Invitational Golf Outing quickly snowballed into one of Easton’s most meaningful community events. My husband, Don Boyce, had been invited to play in the tournament in New Jersey a few weeks ago, where he met Frank Siller, founder of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Introduced by his close friend Richard Clifford, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 100, Don struck up a conversation with Siller, who mentioned the Foundation’s powerful mobile 9/11 exhibit. Intrigued, Don asked how to bring it to Easton. Siller handed him a phone number and said, “Use my name.”
Don made the call the very next day. The response? If he could make it happen, the exhibit could be there in early August—but if not, the next available slot wouldn’t be until 2027. Don immediately consulted the Church Council, who didn’t hesitate: it was a worthy cause, particularly after the death of long-time member Eunice Hanson this April. Eunice was a dedicated advocate for 9/11 victims after the loss of her son Peter, daughter-in-law Sue, and 2½-year-old granddaughter Christine when United Flight 175 was hijacked and crashed into the South Tower.
When Don called back to confirm, the Tunnel to Towers representative warned him: planning an event like this typically takes three to four months, and Easton had just six weeks. The countdown was on. But bringing the Tunnel to Towers exhibit to town wasn’t just about logistics; it became a labor of love, led by the Staples Academy Foundation and the Congregational Church of Easton, with generous support from local partners including the Easton Volunteer Fire Company, Easton EMS, the Easton Police Department, and the Historical Society of Easton.
Tunnel to Towers volunteer FDNY retired Lieutenant Steven Casquarelli spoke about the importance of remembering 9/11 and honoring the fallen. Photo courtesy of Don Landry. 
Tunnel to Towers Mobile Exhibit Field Manager, William “Billy” Puckett, spoke about the importance of their programs for military and first responder families. Photo courtesy of Don Landry. 
Valerie Buckley of the Easton Senior Center spoke in honor of her friend Eunice Hanson and recited a poem in her honor. Photo courtesy of Don Landry. 
Visiting Easton from New York was Department of Sanitation bagpipe player, Justin, who volunteered to play for the Tunnel to Tower Opening Ceremony. Photo courtesy of Don Landry.
Local businesses, town departments, and individual donors joined to make the event successful. Valerie Buckley, director of the Easton Senior Center, helped rally volunteers and transportation. The Easton Senior Center and First Student offered complimentary shuttle services, ensuring access for all residents, including seniors and families with young children. Free admission was offered through timed-entry tickets, which helped manage the large daily crowds. Chief Foti Koskinas of the Easton Police Department not only saw to it that traffic control measures were well organized, but he also lent a monumental flag for the 18th-century Staples Academy building to welcome visitors to the exhibit. This magnificent flag delighted many driving by the busy Westport and Center Road intersection. As one resident commented, “It is perfect. It’s as if our nation’s flag should always be there!”
Easton’s volunteers, Chief Koskinas and Emergency Management Director Schuyler Sherwood, worked with their vast network of local contacts to help manage the flow, distribute materials, and answer questions, demonstrating that when it comes to honoring our heroes, this town truly comes together. The Tunnel to Towers truck received a hero’s welcome as it entered Easton on August 7th. Led by a cavalcade of police from various local towns and the Connecticut State Police coordinated by Chief Koskinas, the truck passed beneath a grand display of American flags hoisted high above Center Road near the fire department. Local first responders stood at attention, saluting the procession in a powerful tribute that honored the exhibit’s arrival and the heroes it represents. It was a wonderful welcome set-up by Fire Marshall Sherwood. Special recognition is also due to the Easton Volunteer Fire Company for their generous contribution and active member participation, which played a key role in making this event possible.
Small moments also captured the generous spirit of Easton during the Tunnel to Towers motorcade: As the exhibit made its way into town, one of the docents, Lt. Steven Casquarelli (Ret. NYFD), was following the tractor-trailer in his vehicle when he suffered a flat tire. Without hesitation, Capt. Jon Arnold escorted him to the Old Blue Bird Garage, where owner Chris repaired the tire free of charge. It was a simple act of kindness, but one that made a lasting impression and perfectly reflected the heart of this community.
More Than a Museum
This wasn’t just about artifacts and photos—it was about connection. Parents brought their children too young to remember the day. Veterans stood solemnly at the entrance, and survivors shed tears. Conversations bloomed between generations as the exhibit stirred memories and reflections.
For those who lived through 9/11, it brought a wave of raw remembrance. For those born after, the exhibit bridged the gap of history and human experience. The Tunnel to Towers exhibit created space for pause, respect, and learning in an age of short attention spans and fast-moving headlines.
It Matters
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation was created in honor of Stephen Siller, a New York City firefighter who ran through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel in full gear to reach the Twin Towers, only to lose his life in the collapse. Since then, the foundation has grown into a national force for good, building homes for wounded veterans and Gold Star families, funding educational initiatives, and creating exhibits like this to ensure we never forget.
This exhibit has toured nearly all 50 states and parts of Canada, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors. Its arrival in Easton marked not just a national moment but an intensely local one, as remembrance and gratitude came alive in our backyard.
A Lasting Impact
Easton Fire Company Honor Guard for the Tunnel to Towers Opening Ceremony. Photo courtesy of Don Landry. 
Easton first responders and volunteers helped make the Tunnel to Tower Exhibit possible. Photo courtesy of Jim Waterbury. 
Photo courtesy of Jim Waterbury. 
Photo courtesy of Jim Waterbury. 
The Staples Academy Hall welcomed volunteers and donors on Friday, August 8th. Photo courtesy of Jim Waterbury. 
The Staples Academy Foundation welcomed from left to right, FDNY retired Lieutenant Steven Casquarelli, Joe Palmieri, retired FDNY Captain James Grismer, FDNY retired Lieutenant Daniel O’Connor, 9/11 Mobile Exhibit Field Manager William “Billy” Puckett, Donald Boyce, President of the Staples Academy Foundation and Richard Clifford, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 100, Friday, August 8th. Photo courtesy of Jim Waterbury. 
Volunteers Barb Trup, Marica Dacey Ancona and Debbie Olson spent hours jarranging flowers for the church sanctuary and Staples Academy. Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Boyce 
Photo courtesy of Jim Waterbury. 
Photo courtesy of Jim Waterbury. 
Easton volunteers were on hand from the beginning to the end assembling and disassembling the exhibit with guidance.
As the trailer left Easton, it left behind a renewed sense of unity, a greater appreciation for the sacrifices made on 9/11, and a powerful reminder that even in a small town, big acts of remembrance can take place. One of the reasons that T2T is so vital to my family is that my husband Don works with a few unions in NYC and loses friends and clients each year to 9/11 cancer. He sees the suffering that continues 24 years later, and we want to do all we can to educate others and assist those suffering. In our home, we know that we’ll never forget those who sacrificed everything along with those who support and love them.
If you would like to support the work of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, you can learn more at their website: https://t2t.org
And if you’d like to help bring more educational programs and events to Easton through the Staples Academy Foundation, please support its mission to preserve this historic school and bring free educational events to our community. https://staplesacademyfoundation.org
The Staples Academy Foundation and the Congregational Church of Easton thank all who donated and volunteered and are particularly grateful to:
Capt. Jon Arnold, Dr. David Bindelglass, Beverly Dacey, Marica Dacey Ancona, Phil Doremus, Assistant Chief Adam Goldstein, Andy Kachele, Karen Kachele, Jill Kellerman, Rob Kellerman, Chief Foti Koskinas, Donald Landry, David Landry, Bob Laskay, Caren Laskay, June Logie, Dave Logie, Fred Lovejoy, Rich McLaughlin, Leon March, Claudia Nielsen, Marty Ohradan, Debbie Olson, Joe Palmieri, Mike Sabia, Jr., Schuyler Sherwood, Jon Stock, Debbie Szegedi, Barb Trup, Jim Waterbury, Gen Waterbury, Joan Winter and all the others who lent a hand.
Additional gratitude extends to:
Tunnel to Towers Foundation mobile museum so special 9/11 Never Forget Memorial Exhibit, Stamford Emergency Medical Services, Inc. Seymour Ambulance AssociationNewtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps Long Hill Volunteer Fire Co. #1 Inc St. Vincent’s Medical Center – EMS Services AMR Bridgeport, CT Easton CT Police Department Easton CT Fire Marshal’s Office Easton, CT Volunteer Fire Department Fairfield Fire Department, Trumbull Volunteer Fire Company, No. 1, Inc.Metropolitan Transportation Authority – MTA police, Connecticut State Police, @ Westport Police DepartmentStamford Police Department CT, Fairfield Police Department – Connecticut Norwalk, CT Police Department @ Trumbull Police Department Greenwich Police Bridgeport Police Department Monroe Police DepartmentNewtown Police Department City of Danbury Police DepartmentWICC600News 12 ConnecticutNBC Connecticut
