Tunnel to Towers award goes to DSP Col. Melissa Zebley
At the fifth annual Tunnel to Towers Delmarva 5K Run and Walk Nov. 18 at Fort Miles and Cape Henlopen State Park, this year’s Follow the Footsteps Award was presented to Col. Melissa Zebley, Delaware State Police superintendent.
“Just like the qualities that fallen FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller exemplified on the morning of 9/11, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s Follow the Footsteps Award is given out at each of our local events to a selected member of the community,” said Brian Brubaker, Tunnel to Towers Delmarva event director. “This person demonstrates selflessness and service to the citizens of their respective areas, who is also a dedicated individual, and has a love and passion for the people within their community and beyond.”
As a special surprise, former New York Police Department Commissioner Keechant Sewell traveled from New York City to present the award to Zebley during the Tunnel to Towers Delmarva 5K opening ceremonies.
“Behind the always glistening shield of Col. Melissa Zebley of the Delaware State Police is the courage of heart, the generosity of spirit and the selflessness of character. It is no coincidence that she is here in honor of the incredible legacy of Stephen Siller,” said Sewell. “It is her compassion for others, her relentless pursuit of excellence, her – ‘Yes is the answer, now what is your question?’ It is for all these things that she’s bestowed this incredible honor, and joins Tunnel to Towers and all of the champions for the families of our fallen and our warriors wounded in the fight.”
Zebley said, “[Sewell’s] words are so kind, but I consider them a charge to go forward with, never to rest on what has been done, but what more can be done. I’m deeply grateful to be on that mission with you, the mission of service, the mission of giving back. I’m tremendously blessed to work around some amazing women and men in the Delaware State Police, and I can promise you that is our mission each and every day – to serve our state, to serve our communities and to make you all proud.”
“Coinciding with the Delaware State Police’s Centennial Anniversary, Col. Zebley was chosen because of her selfless service to the citizens of the First State, and her contributions through many different community and charitable efforts – including to the youth of Delaware through the Camp Barnes initiative,” Brubaker said. “Col. Zebley is also a highly respected leader and colleague by her peers, and is a strong supporter of Tunnel to Towers efforts.”
Also present for the award presentation were Lt. Col. Daniel Meadows and Maj. William Crotty, both members of the Delaware State Police Executive Command; Secretary Nathanial McQueen of the Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security; Sheriff Michael Lewis of the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office; and Tashica Hilliard, wife of fallen Wicomico County Cpl. Glenn Hilliard, who was killed in the line of duty June 12, 2022. The Hilliard family are current recipients of the Fallen First Responder Home Program, with the Tunnel to Towers Foundation assuming their home’s mortgage payments in late 2022.
Born from the tragedy of 9/11, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation carries out its mission to do good by providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children, and by building specially adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. Tunnel to Towers is also committed to eradicating veteran homelessness and helping America to Never Forget Sept. 11, 2001.
For more information, go to t2t.org.
