SHARE

Voices Of September 11th Aims To Raise Awareness About Health Concerns

NEW CANAAN, CONN. -- A New Canaan organization will be holding a “watch party” to raise awareness about the benefits and medical treatment available to first responders and survivors of the 9/11 attacks.

Commuters walk by a Voices of September 11th billboard in New York City. The Connecticut-based group is hosting a "watch party" to raise awareness about health monitoring and treatment benefits for survivors of the 9/11 attacks.

Commuters walk by a Voices of September 11th billboard in New York City. The Connecticut-based group is hosting a "watch party" to raise awareness about health monitoring and treatment benefits for survivors of the 9/11 attacks.

Photo Credit: http://voicesofsept11.org/
Jon Stewart, former host of The Daily Show, Comedy Central's satirical news program, will be broadcasting from the 9/11 Museum in New York City on Sunday, Dec. 18.

Jon Stewart, former host of The Daily Show, Comedy Central's satirical news program, will be broadcasting from the 9/11 Museum in New York City on Sunday, Dec. 18.

Photo Credit: Montclair Film Festival via Flickr

Comedian Jon Stewart will be hosting a Facebook Live event from the 9/11 Museum in New York City at 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 18. It is intended to encourage those who may qualify to apply for benefits.

According to the New Canaan group, Voices of September 11th, there are still thousands of people – including many Fairfield and Westchester residents -- who might qualify for benefits, but who have not yet signed up.

The New Canaan “watch party” is set for 11-11:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, at the Voices of September 11th’s offices, 161 Cherry St. (second floor), New Canaan.

The James L. Zadroga 9/11 Health & Compensation Act, signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2011 and extended by Congress last December, established the World Trade Center Health Program that ensures that those with health problems relating to the disaster will continue to be monitored and treated through at least 2090.

It was named after a New York City police officer who died of a respiratory ailment linked to his participating in the rescue and recovery efforts at Ground Zero.

Besides Voices of September 11th, 9/11 Health Watch, NYCOSH, 9/11 Environmental Action and the FealGood Foundation will be hosting “watch parties” in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Expected to attend are 9/11 survivors, first responders and a few clinical and/or municipal officials representing survivors and responders.

To view the event on Facebook, visit the following Facebook pages at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Dec.18: the FealGood Foundation, 9/11 Museum, 9/11 Health Watch, NYCOSH, 9/11 Environmental Action, and Voices of September 11th.

The FealGood Foundation is named for John Feal, a 44-year-old Long Island construction worker who was working on "The Pile" when a huge piece of steel fell and would have killed him had he not jumped out of the way. His left foot, however, was crushed and part of it had to be amputated.

When first responders struggled to get the original Zadroga Act passed in 2010, Feal threatened to walk 230 miles from New York City to Washington, D.C.

According to media reports, Stewart, then the host of The Daily Show, Comedy Central's satirical news program, was so moved by their plight that he devoted his entire final broadcast of 2010 to the situation.

For more information about Voices of September 11th, click here.

For other information about:

  • The law: http://www.911healthwatch.org/zadroga-bill/
  • The programs: http://www.911healthwatch.org/the-programs/
  • Other information: http://www.911healthwatch.org/q-a/
  • The legislative history of the law: http://www.911healthwatch.org/history/

to follow Daily Voice Newtown and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE