911 First Responders: Voices from the Pit...June 25 NYC

[itzamirakul]

I received the following email from one of the several progressive groups I support locally. I am hoping that others in the vicinity who may not have heard of this organization or of this coming event might want to attend. I plan to be there.

Many people across the U.S. are not even aware of how many of the volunteers who worked in the WTC ruins following the attack have become desperately ill and a few have even died now from illnesses (mostly pulmonary) resulting from breathing in the polluted, deadly air. If I am not mistaken, it was Christine Whitman who said the air quality was fine and it was ok for the volunteers to spend hours cleaning out the site and loading the steel onto trucks to be taken away and never investigated to be sure of what had actually happened to the buildings. Rudy Giuliani also okayed the air quality for the volunteers at the same time he threatened to take the cameras away from anyone who even dared to take pictures of the site.

BTW: You will notice that anyone injured following 96 hours at the WTC site is not eligible for government assistance for medical costs. So volunteers are left on their own with mounting health problems and costs.

The email follows:
****************


I hope you will attend this event and/or tell your friends and
colleagues about it in order to support the growing number of victims of
9/11, victims of the lies of our own government, to learn why so many
have become terribly sick.

Kyle F. Hence
9/11 CitizensWatch
===============

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The 9/11 Info Resources Series Presents

*9/11 First Responders: Voices From The Pit

*7:00 - Sunday June 25th
Community Church
40 East 35th Street, New York, NY
(Between Park & Madison Avenues)
Doors open 6:00

CONTACT: Les Jamieson, 718-492-2192, 917-658-0132

The environmental disaster caused by 9/11 conjures up images of the
massive dust clouds caused by the collapse of the three steel-framed
buildings which were part of the World Trade Center complex. Thousands
of first responders from many agencies hurried to the scene and remained
for months afterward to take part in the rescue efforts and cleanup
operation.

Join us for this important event to hear various first responders to the
9/11 attacks share their experiences of that day and the ensuing weeks
of unimaginable hardship and incredible heroism. Between the EPA saying
the air quality was safe to breathe, the absence of leadership from
local authorities, and the lack of respirators and supplies, they were
subjected to conditions that were far beyond acceptable levels of
toxicity. They'll describe the lack of health precautions and which have
now left thousands with serious health challenges, most of which are
incurable. You'll learn how the support system has failed these heroes
who gave so selflessly to help their brothers and sisters who fell in
harms way that fateful day, as well as legal and financial challenges
they now face. Also, we’ll present information on services which are now
available to attend to their physical and emotional healing and look at
actions that can be taken by the general public to support their cause.
Speakers include:

*Donna Flayhan – Professor at SUNY-New Paltz

*Donna Flayhan, Ph.D., is the director of The Lower Manhattan Public
Health Project. She is an associate professor in the Communication and
Media department at SUNY New Paltz and has worked in communication and
public health research and on public health campaigns since 1990.
Flayhan has conducted grant-funded research and directed health
campaigns on tobacco use prevention programs, low-level carbon monoxide
exposure, West Nile Virus and Gulf War Syndrome. The Lower Manhattan
Public Health Project is supported by two grants from SUNY New Paltz.

*Michael J. Arcari

*Michael J. Arcari is the program director and founder of Faithful
Response. Faithful Response is an innovative, faith-based mental health
program designed to assist Long Island residents who continue to
struggle with mental health, emotional or family issues related to 9/11,
including the war on terror in Afghanistan and Iraq. This program
provides free, confidential counseling and support. Mr. Arcari is a
former lieutenant and commanding officer of the New York City Police
Department’s Early Intervention Unit, where he introduced Clinical
Incident Stress Management and created its Critical Incident Response
Team. With more than 16 years of experience in trauma services, he also
has a wide background in disaster response services, including
Coordinator of Disaster Response and Administrator of Catholic Charities
USA World Trade Center Disaster Relief Fund. He has also worked with
Project Liberty and Project Home Ground, and served as Catholic
Charities of the Diocese of Rockville Centre’s liaison for disaster
response to the federal, state and local governments.

*John Feal - Demolition Supervisor

*Demolition supervisor John Feal worked at Ground Zero from September
12th until September 17th, supervising and carrying out demolition and
recovery work, until his foot was crushed on site. He was hospitalized
for two months. His foot developed gangrene and half his foot was
amputated. He has since had some 30 surgeries. In addition to his severe
foot injury, Mr. Feal suffers from respiratory illness. While he
received a small Workers Compensation award after his claim was
challenged, the funds are not enough to cover his medical expenses. The
September 11th Victim Compensation Fund denied his claim on the
technical grounds that anyone injured after 96 hours was not eligible.

*Major Mike McCormack – Medic; specialist in collapsed infrastructure
rescue and hazmat

*Major Mike McCormick, at the time holding the rank of Captain with the
U.S. Air Force Auxiliary Patrol, arrived at Ground Zero about three
hours after both towers had collapsed. He worked throughout the first
six days of the rescue effort, until it changed from search and recovery
to recovery only. While engaged in this work, he found the World Trade
Center towers' flag, which was later displayed at the Olympics. Major
McCormick now suffers from respiratory illness and gastro-esophageal
reflux disease. He was awarded a Congressional Certificate, a thank you
letter from the President, and a commendation from Governor Pataki. He
was denied coverage by the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund
because it asserted that he had not proven that he was there.

*David Miller – 1st/69th infantry, 47th Division NY National Guard since
1985

*Served in first Gulf War, St. Johns University, served at ground zero
from morning of 9/11 until Sept. 21st, now has severely damaged health
from toxic exposure. Additionally, David is a community activist working
on housing and health care issues in the Bronx dealing with AIDS,
hepatitis, cancers, heart disease issues plaguing this community higher
than any other.

*Kevin McPadden –Search & Rescue/Combined Military Relief team*

Former Air Force medic during Desert Storm, responded to OKC Bombing in
various clinical capacities during the second wave of work. Kevin was a
network engineer laid off on Sept. 10th, then volunteered for duty on
9/11 where he stayed for 4 days serving in clinical and various
logisitical duties. During this period he was kicked out during a run-in
with FEMA, but then joined up with a military unit doing search &
rescue, evacuating residents from a nearby Stuyvesant building. He
suffered injuries and has sustained lung damage, and is diagnosed with
severe PTSD.

*Requested Donation - $8*

Additional speakers being added.