First responders not invited to 9/11 memorial ceremony
Posted Sep 10, 2011 7:49 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
NEW YORK, NY. (NEWS1130) – The commemoration ceremony for the tenth anniversary of the September 11th attacks is intended to promote unity and bring people together, however, anger is now growing among some in New York over the exclusion of first responders from the World Trade Centre memorial ceremony.
News1130 reporter Carl Hanstke is in New York covering the memorial. He says resentment is starting to grow among the police, fire and other first responders who have been told they’re not invited.
“It’s a slap in this face, and some of these people are now sick, some of them are not here ten years later, it’s wrong,” said one police officer.
Several others echoed the officer’s sentiment. “They are as much a part of this as anybody,” one man told News1130. “I do feel like they deserve recognition,” said one woman.
The families of the 366 firefighters and police officers who died when the towers collapsed will be in attendance, which some believe is the the most important thing.
“I can definitely understand that accommodations would be quite difficult, trying to fit all those people in,” said one man.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg confirmed the man’s concerns when he cited space constraints for the reason why the first responders will be unable to attend the ceremony.
No religious leaders have been invited to the ceremony.
