Mayor Says Not To Honor Retired Firefighters Killed On 9/11 Same As Active Members

[Gold9472]

Mayor Says Not To Honor Retired Firefighters Killed On 9/11 Same As Active Members

http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=64598

November 26, 2006

Mayor Michael Bloomberg weighed in this weekend on how to memorialize three retired firefighters who were killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks, saying that they should not get the same treatment as active city employees.

The families of James Corrigan, William Wren and Phillip Hayes, have been trying to get the retirees' names inscribed on the Wall of Honor at Engine 10, Ladder 10, on Liberty Street. But, because the men were not active city employees, Governor George Pataki is poised to sign a bill giving the men posthumous Medals of Valor and the right to have their names inscribed along with the 343 active firefighters who died.

But now Mayor Bloomberg's legislative director tells the New York Post that he hopes Pataki does not sign that bill. The mayor's office says it has been an FDNY tradition that only those who die on active duty get the honors, and the vast majority of firefighters support that tradition.

Corrigan's widow tells the paper that she's upset Bloomberg is against the bill and she says it is unfortunate the legislation, which was passed by both houses of legislature last week, is required in the first place.

[Gold9472]

FLAP OVER MEDAL FOR 9/11 RETIREE HEROES

http://www.nypost.com/seven/11262006/news/regionalnews/flap_over_medal_for_9_11_retiree_heroes_regionalne ws_carl_campanile.htm

By CARL CAMPANILE

November 26, 2006 -- A bill awarding Medals of Valor to three retired firefighters who died in the World Trade Center attacks should be vetoed by Gov. Pataki because it breaks with Fire Department tradition, Mayor Bloomberg said.

The three retired firefighters - James Corrigan, William Wren and Phillip Hayes - all were employed as fire safety workers in the WTC complex. Corrigan was the fire safety director.

Families of the three men have campaigned to have the FDNY recognize the heroes with posthumous Medals of Valor and inscribe their names on the Wall of Honor at the Ladder 10/Engine 10 firehouse on Liberty Street - joining the names of the 343 active-duty firefighters who perished.

The legislation was sent to Pataki on Friday after passing both houses of the state Legislature.

In urging the governor to veto the measure, Bloomberg's office said there's a 141-year FDNY policy of presenting the medal only to actively employed firefighters who die in the line of duty.

"Since 1865, the FDNY has maintained a tradition of awarding the Medal of Valor only to FDNY personnel who died in the line of duty while in active-employment status for the FDNY. The same is true for the memorial plaques on the Wall of Honor," said Bloomberg's legislative director, Anthony Piscitelli.

"It is the established policy of the FDNY that retired members who died in situations related to fire activity should not be honored in the same manner as active-duty personnel killed in the line of duty."

Piscitelli noted that FDNY brass and a "vast majority" of the 11,000 firefighters support that tradition.

Corrigan's widow, Marie, said she was upset that Bloomberg was trying to kill the bill and prevent recognition for the three men.

"It's pretty sad. I don't get it," she said. "It's unfortunate that this legislation has to be written at all.

"These three men gave their lives working under the direction of the Fire Department. They worked in the evacuation efforts just like the rest of the firefighters. They went into their 'firefighter mode' when all this happened."

James Corrigan was a lieutenant and captain at Ladder Co. 10 on Liberty Street before he retired in 1994.

The families of three fallen retired firefighters have collected 11,282 signatures in support of the bill.

A prior state law awarded line-of-duty pension benefits to survivors of the retirees. But the city interpreted the law as not extending to "ceremonial benefits."

Marie Corrigan said other organizations - such as the International Firefighters Association - have provided more recognition to the firefighter-retirees "than the city they died for."