The Forgotten 9/11 Ground Zero Heroes

   Marie Cocco of the Washington Post has a great column today profiling one of our clients, Jeanmarie DeBiase, the widow of 9/11 hero Mark DeBiase.  While sick police officers and firefighters have received much deserved attention, workers in a variety of occupations, without whom the Ground Zero clean-up could not have been possible, have not received the same level of press.  Mark was a wireless phone technician who set up emergency communications for other 9/11 rescue and first responders and volunteers.  He died on April 9, 2006 due to interstitial lung disease caused by exposure to dust and toxins at the Fresh Kills landfill, where the World Trade Center debris was trucked.  

More importantly, they have not received the same level of medical and monetary support as the police and firefighters.  Many have lost their health insurance for both themselves and their families. Many ill workers continue to struggle as they fight workers' compensation claims being vigorously fought by employers who have forgotten the meaning of the word "compassion".  On this sixth anniversary of the collapse of the Twin Towers, may we all re-dedicate ourselves to helping families who cannot "move on" from September 11, 2001. 

Trackbacks (0) Links to blogs that reference this article Trackback URL
http://www.disabledworkerlaw.com/admin/trackback/45922
Comments (1) Read through and enter the discussion with the form at the end
ELAINE - September 23, 2007 3:03 PM

I am a sister of 2 brothers that worked the clean up , from the 1st day 9 12 .
till finish 2 1/2 yrs later.
I tried to register them with no success.
ONE HAS BEEN HOSP.FOR HEART ATACK
THEY EXPERIENCE BREATHING PROBLEMS.

OTHER HAS NOSE BREATHING PROB.THEY WORKED FOR YANUZZI CONST.NOW UNEMPLOYED.CAN YOU HELP ME REGISTERED THEM.THEY PAID INTO UNION LOCAL 15 DUES/STAMPS,BUT,THEY NEVER WAS EXPLAINED HOW TO USE THE BENIFITS.MONEY IS IN A FUND AND THEY DONT KNOW HOW TO GET IT CAN YOU H E L P !

Post A Comment / Question Use this form to add a comment to this entry.







Remember personal info?