Senator Golden, Assemblyman Gianaris And Unsung Heroes Announce Legislation

New York- Senator Martin Golden (R,C-Brooklyn) and Assemblyman Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) appeared at Ground Zero yesterday announcing legislation to establish a 9/11 Workers Memorial within the World Trade Center Memorial Museum. They were joined by a number of 9/11 recovery workers including John Sferazo, co-founder of the advocacy group Unsung Heroes Helping Heroes, and Joe Zadroga, whose son, Detective James Zadroga,was the first recovery worker whose death was medically linked to the World Trade Center clean-up effort.

"In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, New Yorkers were called upon to rush to Ground Zero and help put this city back on its feet," said Assemblyman Gianaris. "Dozens of 9/11 workers have now passed away as a result of sicknesses contracted while working at Ground Zero and hundreds more face the same fate. Denying these brave and selfless people’s sacrifice is a disgrace we cannot tolerate."

The legislation calls for a section of the World Trade Center Memorial Museum to be dedicated to the 9/11 recovery workers who lost their lives after developing illnesses related to the Ground Zero clean-up effort. Current estimates are that 90 such workers have died and hundreds more are sick.

Senator Golden stated: "Those who labored in the days, weeks and months following the horrific attacks of September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center were very much a part of the strength, the heroism and the courage of New York . We must pay proper tribute to all that these men and
women, some who have since fallen ill, did at Ground Zero in the wake of the worst terrorist attack on American soil in U.S. history. They are very much a part of what put New York City back on it's feet again and New York and America will always be grateful.”

Senator Golden continued, “To tell the story, to record history and make a Museum at Ground Zero for future generations to come to remember, to reflect and to learn, without telling the story and remembering the lives of those who labored in the days, weeks and months after September 11,
2001, would be to tell an incomplete story.

John Sferazo added: "There is a great need to recognize the sacrifice of the thousands of 9/11workers who responded to the September 11th terrorist attacks. Their patriotic attribute has made this country what it is today, which is why it is ever more important that the dedication of
these selfless men and women does not go unnoticed."

By calling for the 9/11 Workers Memorial to be housed within the Memorial Museum, the proposal ensures that it would not interfere with the World Trade Center Memorial dedicated to the victims who lost their lives on September 11th.