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IAFF Local 2625 | Collinsville Firefighters
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 The National September 11 Memorial Foundation has informed Michael Burke and other families of FDNY fire fighters killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks that ranks and affiliation will not be included on the Memorial Wall in New York City because New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, chair of the Memorial Foundation Board, believes such distinctions will cause visitors to mourn the death of the plane's captain or a fire captain more than the death of the plane's passengers or the civilian the fire fighter was trying to rescue.
"This is a disgrace," says IAFF 1st District Vice President Kevin Gallagher. "To not honor our fallen brothers with their rank is wrong. We cannot let their sacrifice go without the proper recognition for the courageous acts they performed." Burke's brother, William F. Burke Jr., was a captain in Engine Co. 21. Michael requested to meet with the board about the decision to omit ranks and was told no. "This is a public entity supported by public funds. I am the voice of a guy who gave his life on 9/11, but I cannot meet with the board," writes Burke in his message, "Denying My Brother's Identity" posted on the FDNY web site. "I don’t know where any of them were on September 11." The IAFF is encouraging members to send a loud and clear message to Mayor Bloomberg and the National September 11 Memorial and Museum Foundation that listing the rank and company affiliation of FDNY fire fighters who gave their lives that dark day is about honoring them and that disallowing it is inexcusable.
The sample letter below can be copied, pasted and sent to Mayor Bloomberg at
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. Please copy
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or
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for their records. National September 11 Memorial Museum CEO Joe Daniels can also be reached by phone at (212) 312-8800 or by FAX at (212) 227-7931. For more information, click here.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Chairman
National September 11 Memorial and Museum Foundation
Mr. Joseph Daniels
President/CEO
National September 11 Memorial and Museum
Dear Mayor Bloomberg, Why aren't the ranks of those killed in the 9/11 terrorists attacks being included on the memorial wall at the National September 11th Memorial in
New York City?
We are told it is because the Memorial Foundation Board, chaired by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, believes these distinctions would
cause visitors to mourn the death of the plane's captain or a fire captain more than the death of the plane's passengers or the civilian the fire fighter was
trying to rescue.
To Mayor Bloomberg and the Board, we say that is not only wrong it is insulting. It is not Mayor Bloomberg's nor the Foundation Board's place to dictate
to America what visitors should know of 9/11 when they visit the World Trade Center site in order to control what they should think and feel. It is only our place at this historic place to recognize what happened here, to faithfully preserve and convey the meaning, magnitude and impact of the attacks and confront the evil that men are capable of and the destruction and the death they cause and, in response, the sacrifice. The memorial must speak to future generations as equally as it does to us. As such, the 406 first responders at the World Trade Center, the military personal at the Pentagon and the flight crews who died in service to their city, their country and humanity on 9/11 must be identified by the rank they earned with
their lives.
The world is coming to the site for 9/11, not a lesson in contemporary notions of political correctness from Mayor Bloomberg and anonymous board
members. History demands it; honor demands it and we demand it.
Your Name
Your Address
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There are a few new threads in the forum for Local 2625 members to discuss. Please visit the links below. Light Duty Policy Comp Time Policy Wellness-Fitness Initiative |
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From The Secret List:
As early as TODAY, the U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to consider H.R. 2892, the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 DHS Appropriations bill. Representatives Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), Jason Altmire (D-PA), Steve Austria (R-OH), and Peter King (R-NY) are expected to offer an amendment to increase funding for the FIRE grant program by $40 million to reach $420 million. While it is less than what we have seen in past years, it is more than is currently proposed.
"RIGHT NOW" ACTION ITEM:
You are URGED to call your Representative RIGHT NOW in support of the Pascrell amendment. The vote on this bipartisan amendment may occur as early as Tuesday, June 23. If you know your Representative's name, you can call 202-225-3121 and ask to be connected to his or her office.
BACKGROUND FACTS:
Last year, Congress appropriated $565 million for the FIRE grant program and $210 million for the SAFER grant program. In his FY 2010 budget, President Obama proposed doubling the SAFER grant program to $420 million and cutting the FIRE grant program by almost 70% to $170 million! In their committee mark-up of H.R. 2892, Representatives David Price (D-NC) and Hal Rogers (R-KY) restored some of the funding to the FIRE grant program with a $380 million appropriation, and appropriated $420 million for the SAFER grant program to meet the President's request. The Pascrell amendment would equalize funding for both the FIRE and SAFER grant programs at $420 million. BOTH PROGRAMS ARE CRITICAL to the issues directly related to firefighter safety, health and survival.
In contacting your Representatives, please remember:
=If you know your Representative's name, you can call 202-225-3121 and ask to be connected to his or her office.
=You can find your Representative's contact information HERE: http://www.house.gov/ . Just type in your zip code on the top left-hand corner of the website and you will be linked to your Representative's website. =Remember to ask to talk to the Legislative Assistant or Legislative Correspondent handling homeland security or fire service issues.
=Be sure to highlight that the FIRE grant program uses a peer-review, merit-based process to send federal funds directly to local fire departments for equipment, training, and fire prevention programs.
=Please mention if you have received a FIRE grant and how it helped your department, especially if it helped to save the lives of your firefighters or the public in your community.
This is one of our only opportunities to increase funding for the FIRE grant program this year, so we need you to contact your Representative in support of the Pascrell amendment to increase FIRE grant funding by $40 million. Please MAKE THE CALL AND CONTACT RIGHT NOW.....IT WILL MATTER.
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Call Your Senators Today The nation's professional fire fighters could see their federal taxes jump under a health care plan being pushed by Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), who chairs the Senate committee that oversees tax policy on Capitol Hill. Senator Baucus has stated and is fighting in support of a plan to tax employees on the value of their employer-provided health care to pay for an overhaul of the nation's health care system. If you have health care insurance provided by your employer, as virtually every single IAFF member does, you will be disproportionately taxed by Senator Baucus's plan. While President Obama campaigned strongly AGAINST such a plan, and has continued to indicate he does NOT support Senator Baucus's proposal to tax health benefits, the plan has support among a number of Democrats and Republicans in Congress. We need your help and action immediately to fight Senator Baucus's plan! If enacted, the health care tax could cost you several thousand dollars a year. "We need every IAFF member in the nation to call both of your senators today and tell them not to tax our health benefits," says IAFF General President Harold A. Schaitberger. "So far, senators are listening to economists and policy wonks rather than working Americans. While we are on the Hill telling the Senate this proposal is a huge mistake, we need your help to derail it. Please contact your senators today to let them know your displeasure with Senator Baucus's plan." Call and email both of your senators with a simple message: "Don't support any health care plan that taxes health care benefits." The Senate switchboard number is (202) 224-3121. Simply call this number and ask to be transferred to your senator's office.
Click here to send your senator an e-mail.
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 The Annual Illinois State Fair is being held this year from August 13 thru August 23 in Springfield. Historically the Illinois Fire Services Association (IFSA) has operated a tent for children and adults to preview fire safety information and participate in various fire safety related games. The AFFI is one of twelve organizations that make up the Illinois Fire Services Association. Each year organizations are assigned one day to operate the fire service tent. The AFFI has been assigned Sunday August 16, 2009. The duties include monitoring the fire pole, handing out fire prevention material, showing video’s, etc.. In order for the process to work smoothly, it is imperative that AFFI members and family members participate. The tent requires approximately 25 people to effectively operate. We will need people from 8 am to approximately 4pm on Sunday August 16. This is a great day to bring the family to the Illinois State Fair and also represent the AFFI. We would encourage individuals to sign up for two hour increments or as long as you are willing to assist. Members will receive free admission to the fair as well as an AFFI shirt. The Office of the State Fire Marshal just purchased a new tent this year and we expect to meet or exceed the huge number of guests that have visited the IFSA’s tent in previous years. We have over 30,000 fire prevention items to give away in ten days and we have added a new popcorn popper to the tent as well. Please spread the word to all AFFI members and their families and encourage them to join us. Please email Sue Smith (
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) and Chuck Sullivan (
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) with the names of participants from your local and the time slots they desire. You may call the AFFI at 217-522-8180. Your support of this worthwhile event is appreciated by the AFFI and the organizations that make up the Illinois Fire Services Association. Fraternally, Chuck Sullivan, AFFI Representative to State Fair Pat Devaney, AFFI President |
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