Bridgeport, CT – Earlier today, Mayor Ganim announced that the City of Bridgeport is partnering with Port 5, National Association for Naval Veterans for two events this year; The Wall that Heals and the Tunnel to Towers Road Race.

The Wall that Heals is expected to be recognized between September 26^th-29^th and will encompass an exhibit that features a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The replica is 375 feet in length and stands 7.5 feet high at its tallest point. Visitors will experience The Wall rising above them as they walk towards the apex, a key feature of the design of The Wall in D.C. Like the original Memorial, The Wall That Heals is erected in a chevron-shape and visitors can do name rubbings of individual service member’s names on The Wall. The replica is constructed of avonite, a synthetic granite, and its 140 numbered panels are supported by an aluminum frame. Machine engraving of more than 58,000 names along with modern LED lighting provides readability of The Wall whether during the day or at night.

The second event to be hosted is the Tunnel to Towers Road Race that will take place on October 19^th within the Black Rock neighborhood. The race will start at Port 5 and will have the same route as the race that takes place during Black Rock Day. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation started in honor of firefighter Stephen Siller who drove his truck to the entrance of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, which was closed for security purposes. Determined to carry out his duty, he strapped sixty pounds of gear to his back, and raced on foot through the tunnel to the Twin Towers, where he gave up his life while saving others. The event symbolizes Stephen Siller’s final footsteps from the foot of the Battery Tunnel to the Twin Towers and pays homage to the 343 FDNY firefighters, law enforcement officers, and thousands of civilians who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

Mayor Ganim stated, “It means a lot that Bridgeport can be a part of this initiative to honor our veterans and firefighters who fought to save the lives of many. I’m very appreciative of this partnership we have with Port 5 as we continue to recognize all the lives who were lost to protect us during these grave events.”