11 Are Honored with 9/11 Medals at Sept. 29 Event

(l-r): Previous medal winners Dom Spagnolo, Alan Grande, and Hector Soto, who was also honored this year, stand with Local 100 Pres. John Chiarello and Exec. Board Member Mario Galvet in front of glass case containing transit artifacts
(l-r): Previous medal winners Dom Spagnolo, Alan Grande, and Hector Soto, who was also honored this year, stand with Local 100 Pres. John Chiarello and Exec. Board Member Mario Galvet in front of glass case containing transit artifacts

OCTOBER 1—Eleven retired TWU Local 100 members—all of whom suffer from medical conditions associated with their service at Ground Zero—were honored at the TWU Local 100 medal ceremony held at the National September 11th Memorial and Museum on Monday.

Local 100 President John V. Chiarello noted that, even now, 24 years later, most members of the public are not aware of the fact that New York City Transit workers were "the largest group to respond on the ground, saving people off the streets, clearing debris, taking part in rescue and recovery efforts and swiftly restoring transit services." 

"None of our medal recipients could have known that that day would result in lifelong illness," he added, calling for the federal government to continue to fully fund care for 9/11 workers under the Zadroga Act.

Receiving recognition as a group were four Work Train Operators—Hector Soto, George Phillips, Garry Clark, and Orlando Jusino—whose job it was to remove thousands of tons of debris from underneath the collapsed towers via subway tunnels.

Another Work Train Operator, Willard Moss, who died of 9/11 cancer, was recognized with a posthumous medal presented to his daughters, Angela and Ivette.

Bus Operators, Conductors, and Signal Maintainers were other recipients of medals from the union, with three of them being awarded posthumously to family members.

International President John Samuelsen, who authorized union officers Mario Galvet and Kevin McCawley to begin the 9/11 recognition project for transit workers back in 2014, recounted his personal memories of responding to 9/11. He decried the notorious announcement made at the time by former EPA Secretary Christine Todd Whitman, who assured responders that the air at the site was safe to breathe. He also noted that TWU members who died at 9/11 included Flight Attendants who were on board the planes that went into the towers.

Elizabeth Hillman, President and CEO of the September 11th Memorial and Museum, also thanked transit workers for their service at 9/11. Her support has been instrumental in creating the permanent exhibits which now house artifacts carried by Local 100 members at Ground Zero. Also showing respect for our fallen members was NYCT President Demetrius Crichlow.

Union members who were part of the rescue and recovery effort and who are now suffering from either cancer or respiratory problems which may have been caused by their service at Ground Zero are encouraged to call the Union Hall to receive assistance with filing a claim.