NESCONSET, LONG ISLAND (WABC) — More people are dying from 9/11-related illnesses now than on that day.
More than 300 names were forever inscribed on a memorial wall on Long Island on Saturday. Nesconset’s 9/11 Responders Remembered Memorial Park honors not only emergency responders but also those who participated in the massive, months-long recovery effort at Ground Zero, from auto mechanics to architects and who sacrificed their lives after years of illness. cost.
There are now nearly 3,000 names engraved on three walls there. Organizer John Feal simply had too much space.
“We need to raise money for two new walls because people are dying faster and we can’t keep up,” Phil said.
Click here to donate through Feal’s FealGood Foundation.
Saturday’s memorial service holds special significance for Eyewitness News because one of the names included belongs to Todd Pierce, a distinguished and beloved photojournalist for Channel 7.
He stayed in the pile for weeks and even months, documenting the emergency and subsequent recovery. Twenty years later, he experienced back and shoulder pain. This is an aggressive 9/11 cancer.
We lost him earlier this year.
Watch | Eyewitness News Remembers Todd Pierce
Todd’s wife, Shelley, attended the unveiling of the Long Island monument.
“It touches my heart, but seeing his name etched in stone with all the other responders makes it even more real to me. It’s poignant, it’s heartbreaking, it’s an honor – I So proud. I think the most important thing is I’m proud of him. He loves his job. He loved being the eyes of the domestic audience and because of him we were able to see history unfold and I think that’s quite a legacy,” she said.
Todd is very dedicated to his craft. He’s a role model, he’s a comedian, and he’s the best friend you could ever ask for.
We at Eyewitness News are thinking of Shirley and their daughter Sarah all the time – and we miss Todd every day.
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