U.S. Rep: 9/11 First Responders, Survivors Need Parade
By Anna Sanders
Source New York Daily News
Mayor de Blasio should host a parade up the Canyon of Heroes to thank and honor 9/11 first responders and survivors, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney said Friday.
“It is a small but meaningful way to show our gratitude for the sacrifices they and their families made and continue to make each day,” Maloney (D-Manhattan) wrote in a letter to de Blasio. “Moreover, this is an opportunity to demonstrate again our city’s and whole country’s resilience, rebuilding and recovery.”
This week the Senate finally passed a $10.2 billion bill to renew the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund, enshrining the federal government’s ability to ease economic losses and pain that still afflicting those who spent days and months at Ground Zero breathing in fumes and toxins released when the World Trade Center towers fell.
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President Trump is expected sign the measure, sponsored by Maloney, on Monday.
The "Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act” makes the funding stream permanent after past allocations began to run out from increasing costs of care and the number of victims falling ill.
Both NYPD Detective Luis Alvarez and FDNY Firefighter Ray Pfeifer died of 9/11-linked cancer before the legislation was approved after fighting for its passage.
“And each day, sadly, brings news of another funeral for one of the men or women who rushed to the aid of their fellow citizens and our country,” Maloney wrote to de Blasio. “Rather than wait for eulogies to honor their service – and the sacrifice of all the 9/11 survivors – let us take this moment to celebrate their legacy of valor while they can be present to participate in it.”
The event is intended to honor the sacrifice of 9/11 first responders and survivors and wouldn’t necessarily be a ticker-tape parade, according to the congresswoman’s office.
The city has hosted 207 ticker-tape parades since 1886, most recently this month for the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team to celebrate their World Cup victory.
The parades have traditionally been held up the Canyon of Heroes along Broadway, from Battery Park to City Hall. They’ve been held for returning war veterans, sport champions and heads of state.
De Blasio’s office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
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