Three retired FDNY firefighters died in a fatal coincidence this past Memorial Day weekend, due to illnesses related to their work in the rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center (WTC) following the terrorist attacks of the 11 September 2001.
“In the days leading up to the 20th anniversary of the end of recovery efforts at ground zero, three FDNY firefighters lost their battles with fire-related illnesses. with the World Trade Center”, announced Andrew Ansbro, president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association (UFA).
The new victims were Robert J. Reynolds, John J. McCauley and Michael Verzi. “The terrorist attacks and resulting recovery operation continue to claim the lives of many New York City firefighters who responded to the call that day and in the months that followed,” Ansbro said.
Retired firefighter Reynolds, who served in the FDNY during 11 years old, succumbed to his WTC-related illness on Saturday. Supervising Fire Chief McCauley followed him on Sunday for a similar, unlisted cause, the department said. That same day Verzi died.
“For many New Yorkers, those horrible days are over, but for those of us who lived through them, we continue to lose friends and family. , and we will continue to care for those who have gotten sick.”
Andrew Ansbro, President of the Uniformed Firefighters Association (UFA)
“We will never forget Firefighter Robert Reynolds, Firefighter Michael Verzi and Supervising Fire Chief Jack McCauley, who were taken from us too soon,” he said. Ansbro. “For many New Yorkers, those horrible days are long gone, but for those of us who lived through it, we continue to lose friends and family, and we will continue to care for those who have become ill.”
The FDNY was the group of first responders most affected on 11 September 2001, losing 550 members in the WTC site and 60 later dying of related illnesses, union leaders told the New York Post last year.
Almost 3 thousand people died in the attacks of the 11 September 2001 in New York, Washington DC and Pennsylvania, in the worst terrorist attack in history. United States history. Only 60% of the fatalities from that day have been identified. And several more have died or reported illnesses in subsequent years as a result of the events.
The collapse of the WTC sent a cloud of thick dust over Lower Manhattan and there were fires for weeks. Thousands of construction workers, police officers, firefighters, volunteers and others spent time working in the soot, often without proper respiratory protection.
Park is renamed in memory of Luis “Luo” Álvarez, Hispanic hero in the attacks 9/