Also See: Photo Slide Show: A Weekend Of Reflection in New York
LON SLEPICKA
Firehouse.com News
NEW YORK -- Franciscan Friar Mychal Judge, who died administering last rites to a firefighter Sept. 11 at the World Trade Center, should be awarded the US Medal of Freedom by the President, a Senator said Sunday.
A photo of fallen FDNY Chaplain Mychal Judge is among the many flowers, cards and images of other
fallen FDNY Bravest at Engine 1 and Ladder 24 in Manhattan.
Lon Slepicka/Firehouse.com
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Sen. Charles Schumer (NY) asked for that recognition Sunday in front of Engine 1/Ladder 24 where the FDNY Fire Chaplain dined each evening. The firehouse is across the street from the Church of St. Francis of Assisi where Judge worked and lived.
Schumer also added that he was supporting Senator Chris Dodd's (D-CT) bill to hire 75,000 new firefighters across the nation with $8 billion in grants to fire departments over seven years.
Schumer spoke after the annual Memorial Service of the FDNY Holy Name Society at the church to honor fallen firefighters of the past from New York City. That service was attended by firefighters from across the nation who came to the city even though the huge memorial service for FDNY victims of the WTC terrorist attack was postponed.
Schumer may not have realized that besides FDNY firefighters, he was also speaking to firefighters from Chicago, Los Angeles and other departments.
"It's one thing to express our appreciation for our firefighters in words. It's another in deeds, and that's what we're hoping to accomplish with this legislation, and with this request to the President," Schumer said.
Since 1992, Father Judge served as the Catholic Chaplain of FDNY. In the letter to President Bush and with the participation with his fellow New York Senator, Hillary Clinton, Schumer wrote, "On that tragic day in September, Father Judge died as he lived - serving others.
Among the first arriving units at the World Trade Center, Father Judge was advised to move to a new safer location, but he refused to leave his compatriots. When the firefighters entered the building, Father Judge was at their side, where he remained offering comfort and absolution until the end. It is my hope that you will honor Father Judge's service to New York City and to the country by awarding him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom."
As Schumer spoke the bells of St. Francis began ringing, drowning out his words. As he waited to begin again, Schumer joked that it was Father Judge ringing the bells himself. The Medal is given to civilians for meritorious acts of service under a Presidential executive order.
The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Act of 2001, sponsored by Dodd and Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) and others, would pay 75 percent of the annual salary of new firefighters. Departments applying for the grants must demonstrate the need for federal assistance as well as their long term hiring strategy.
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