We Are the Living Legacy of 9/11

Mike & Friends Blog

Reggie Cervantes

Reggie Cervantes is a 9/11 rescue worker featured in Michael Moore's "SiCKO."

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May 30th, 2012 5:47 AM

We Are the Living Legacy of 9/11

We are Christy Todd Whitman's legacy. We are George W. Bush, Rudolph Giuliani, and Michael Bloomberg's legacy as well. Whenever something is unfinished and handed on to the next generation of elected officals to handle, they become part of the legacy.

Never have we seen the endless blunders committed against a group in America like the modern day assault against the 9/11 responders. We have been victims of America's failing policies, which have allowed many responders to die. And generations to follow will fall prey to the lack of efficiency from the legacy these politicians left us. This May 30th, the legacy continues and we add new politicians to it: those bucking to earn votes for the upcoming election.

Their latest blunder is allowing a civilian-organized event by T.J. Gilmartin, who wanted to honor 9/11 rescue and recovery workers with a parade. But the politicians have turned it into a three-ring circus, further insulting rescue and recovery workers.

First they added themselves to the event. Then when T.J. Gilmartin attempted to obtain a parade permit for the Canyon of Heroes so the 9/11 Rescue and Recovery workers – which includes an enormous amount of volunteers from Salvation Army, Red Cross and many other organizations – coudl participate, the City of New York and the Police Department repeatedly refused. When they heard we would be marching down anyway as a group which would have included possible civil disobedience (i.e., marching in the Street without a permit) they decided to join us. To add insult to injury, tickets to this memorial event vanished quickly and some sick or dying responders were not able to obtain ticketss.

So now, as Rescue Workers and Responders, we are equated on the level of those patriots were not present, reduced again to exile as we were on the 10th anniversary because politically they could not accomodate us. The truth being, they never have been inclusive of our group unless they required a photo opportunity with a "HERO."

Tomorrow, I will stay at home. My effort as a responder on 9/11 doesn't need to be validated through recognition of a future elected official during an election year. My service to my country on 9/11 at the World Trade Center was not for political posturing. I was just a mom, with medical skillls who happened to be a rescue worker and assisted my neighbors during an attack on our country. However, my colleagues and I are insulted to be considered on the same level as people who "support us." They did not spend years training and working as a rescue worker and put their lives on the line at the World Trade Center.

May 30th is not about Commemorating the 10th Anniversary of closing of Ground Zero. It's an election year and a way for eager politicians to grandstand once again on our backs. The all belong to the same club, the disrespect club.