The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has received a $20,000 donation from Operation Deep Blue, following the group’s 8-day, 225-mile kayaking journey that culminated at the Wharf in Washington, DC on Oct. 8.
The weeklong, annual trek is called the Expedition To Honor Our Fallen and first began in 2019. It features a group of current and former law enforcement officers and military service members, journeying from Fort Mott State Park in Pennsville, NJ to the Wharf in Washington, D.C., all to honor first responders and military service members who died in the line of duty.
“This rigorous expedition shows just how tough our nation’s heroes are and we must do everything we can to show them and their families support,” said Tunnel to Towers Chairman and CEO, Frank Siller. “This donation will go a long way to helping the families of fallen first responders and to make sure we never forget the sacrifices they’ve made.”
This year, the Operation Deep Blue team had 21 participants, including 14 paddlers, each of whom selected an individual fallen hero to honor, as well as seven ground support team members. This year’s expedition ended with a brief celebration at the Wharf where the donation was presented to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
The donation will go towards the foundation’s mission to provide mortgage-free homes to the nation’s catastrophically injured veterans and first responders, as well as mortgage payoffs to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children.
In 2021, the foundation provided over 200 mortgage-free homes to injured veterans, first responders and their families.
Related
Tunnel to Towers is also committed to eradicating veteran homelessness and by the end of 2022, it will provide housing for over 500 veterans.
To find videos and pictures of this year’s event click here.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.
Related
