New York State moved August 20, to reinstate in the Fire Department of New York, even though they had retired, three former firefighters who were who were killed at the World Trade Center September, 11, 2001.
The three men, James J. Corrigan, William X. Wren, and Phillip T. Hayes, were employed by WTC, Corrigan as Fire and Life Safety Co-ordinator and Wren and Phillip as Fire Directors.
Corrigan’s son, J. Brendan Corrigan, said his father had retired from the FDNY in the mid 90s. He had spent part of his duty at Engine10 Ladder 10, the closest station to the WTC so knew the towers and buildings well.
J. Brendan Corrigan said his father was seen several times in the CBS ``9-11'' documentary that featured video footage from inside the World Trade Center after the terrorist attacks. The ``9-11'' special was based on footage captured by Jules and Gedeon Naudet, French filmmakers and shown last March.
The legislation will provide benefits to the victims survivors and that the three men will be recognized as firefighters suffering Line-Of-Duty Deaths for the many memorial services and activities that are forth coming.
S. 7716: An act to make certain domestic partners, parents, and widows and children of certain firefighters dying at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 eligible for special accidental death benefits pursuant to section 208-f of the general municipal law (PART A); and to make certain domestic partners of certain firefighters dying at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 eligible for health benefits and to make the surviving siblings of certain firefighters so dying eligible for certain pension benefits (PART B)
The legislature further finds and determines that certain persons were employed as firefighters by the fire department of the city of New York and were killed in the course of such employment at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, leaving as their survivors their dependent parents. The legislature further finds and determines that James J. Corrigan, William X. Wren, and Phillip T. Hayes were formerly employed as firefighters by the fire department of the city of New York and were killed while retired from such employment and in the course of fire- fighting at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Notwithstanding any provision of any general, special, or local law to the contrary, the provisions of section 208-f of the general municipal law shall be deemed to apply to the widows and children of James J. Corrigan, William 16 X. Wren, and Phillip T. Hayes, and such widows and children shall be eligible for the special accidental death benefit provided by such section upon the same terms and conditions as other persons eligible to receive benefits pursuant to such section. Furthermore, James J. Corrigan, William X. Wren, and Phillip T. Hayes, shall be deemed, as of September 11, 2001 to have been fully reinstated to full active employment status, at their highest achieved rank and status, on and as of September 11, 2001 without any diminution or return of their previously received retirement benefits. The benefits provided by this section shall be payable from the general fund in monthly installments. This act shall take effect immediately and shall be deemed to have been in full force and effect on and after September 10, 2001.
