The names of three unsung metropolis Division of Correction heroes who rushed into the chaos of the 9/11 assaults had been perpetually etched in historical past Friday on the company’s annual remembrance ceremony.
Capts. Jacqueline Payden, Raul Gonzalez and Thomas Weadock had been memorialized on the division’s Rikers Island memorial stone, becoming a member of 39 others who’ve succumbed to cancers and different 9/11-related diseases within the practically 25 years for the reason that terror assaults.
Their households had been gifted a plaque and a folded American flag in honor of their family members’ sacrifice.
“I miss my daughter a lot. She was my life. She was my accomplice in crime. She was every thing to me. And she or he died so younger, she simply turned 50 years outdated. She had most cancers — she didn’t even know she had most cancers,” stated Daisy Payden via tears.
“Now we have to remain robust, assist out one another, cease being so imply and evil to one another. Simply give everyone energy, give everyone love. Simply be grateful that you’re right here.”
A wreath was laid in entrance of the black stone shrine as a part of the annual ceremony honoring the a whole bunch of DOC heroes who aided within the rescue and restoration efforts on Sept. 11, 2001.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani described the often-overlooked division as one “the place nobody hesitates.”
“Many have fallen ailing from the poisonous air, air they usually breathed in working day after day, week after week. And I do know that no period of time will make their loss damage any little bit much less,” Hizzoner stated.
DOC Investigator Steven Kapczak’s sisters, Annie Caputo and Kathy Penafiel, had been on the service to honor their solely brother.
He was 53 years outdated when he unexpectedly died in 2013 from a respiratory sickness that was linked to his time aiding with 9/11 response and restoration efforts.
“He was devoted to his job. He was out on these streets doing what he did greatest. He liked his household and his job simply as a lot. We actually miss him,” stated Caputo.
“We consider them on a regular basis. We miss his smile and his laughter and every thing that goes with it.”
Mamdani left the dedication ceremony earlier than it concluded, as he headed to a safety briefing on this weekend’s West Indian American Day Parade, angering a number of the attendees — who already expressed frustration that the DOC was not appropriately acknowledged at broader 9/11 memorial providers.
“I’m not stunned on the mayor’s angle in the direction of the division. He doesn’t care about legislation enforcement and undoubtedly doesn’t care about corrections,” seethed Ken Schwartz, who retired from DOC 23 years in the past and has since been identified with prostate most cancers and has sinus points he stated had been tied to his time volunteering within the morgue within the 9/11 aftermath.
“You don’t care about legislation enforcement is one factor however corrections, as they are saying, is the underside of the barrel and he couldn’t care much less about corrections,” Schwartz stated, including, ““Even the 9/11 Memorial, we’re not even on the memorial.”
The ceremony got here hours after Mamdani signed two govt orders honoring the “victims, first responders, survivors, Metropolis staff and households” affected by the tragedies of the world-altering assaults.
The primary established September 11 because the official Citywide Day of Remembrance and Service, directing all metropolis businesses to designate time within the day for moments of silence for these killed within the assaults and who’ve suffered well being penalties within the years since, in addition to encouraging members to take part in volunteer initiatives.
That date is already designated federally as a Nationwide Day of Service and Remembrance and Patriot Day, however was not formally acknowledged as such on the town stage beforehand.
The second govt order “established” the town’s first Continuity and Mission Assurance Crew (CMAT) — which is only a modernized model of the Continuity of Operations group that has existed for many years.
Mamdani’s model provides leaders from the Workplace of Administration and Price range and the Division of Citywide Administrative Providers to the prevailing group of Emergency Administration and the Workplace of Expertise and Innovation bosses.
The interagency physique will meet repeatedly to craft and strengthen preparedness plans in case of emergencies.
