Tag Archives: Ground Zero

A year ago today, I was in New York City, right next to Ground Zero...In one of the hotels that overlooks the site. I climbed to remember. I was honored to climb 110 stories within feet of where our Brothers climbed on September 11th. The same Brothers we continue to climb for each year.

From NYPD Officers to an EMS Director, a building inspector to a Paramedic, Firefighters to iron workers, welders to K9 handlers, a massage therapist to a Priest this book has a broad spectrum of responders.

I held on to the railing at St. Paul's and said a little prayer. I wasn't there to make a difference. I was there to complete my understanding of an event that has changed my life and I was not alone. Willie put it best: "Rhett and I made eye contact and without saying knew… “THIS” has been our destination for the past 10 years."

When he heard the news, he called his wife Sally to tell her he would be late because he had to help those in need. He returned to Squad 1 to get his gear, then took his final heroic steps to the World Trade Center. When Stephen drove his truck to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, it was already closed to traffic . With sixty pounds of gear strapped to his back, he ran through the Tunnel, hoping to meet up with his own company, Squad 1.

Firefighter Close Calls has the story on Roy Chelsen. He is a September 11th hero who risked his life to make it back to the North Tower amid bodies falling from the upper floors to warn other firefighters of the towers imminent collapse.

Obama signed the bill during his Hawaiian vacation, with no signing ceremony held. In a statement issued later, the president said he was "honored" to sign the bill, which pays for health care for responders believed to have been sickened by pollution at the ruins of the World Trade Center in New York.

IAFF General President Harold Shaitberger weighs in on the Holidays, the passage of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, and the Recent LODD's in Chicago.

There is speculation on why it passed through the Senate after having been shot down just days ago. Some people think it might have something to do with The Daily Show's Jon Stewart's hilarious political jabs at the Republicans who filibustered the bill. It really makes you wonder what the catalyst was. After all, the bill was rewritten removing over $2 billion in cost. Republicans have caught a bad rap on the whole deal...maybe they realized how damaging the bad press could get. Then again, maybe the nay sayers just did the right thing...we may never know.

The other day, I posted Jon Stewart's Lame as F@#k Congress. The feature on the Daily Show was an eye opener for many and focused on the Republicans who killed the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. The show below shows four 9/11 First Responders giving their thoughts on the Filibuster by Republicans.

Who better to explain what happened and expose the GOP leaders who continue to utilize 9/11 to seem compassionate all the while not giving a damn about the first responders who worked at Ground Zero than Jon Stewart on the Daily Show. Even if this is Political humor, the humor is typically not to far from the truth. The House bill passed at 268 to 160 (17 Republicans voting for the bill and 157 against). Only 3 Democrats voted against the House Bill. The Senate bill failed. The vote was 57-42, short of the 60 votes in favor needed to proceed under Senate rules.