National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) President Mick McHale shared the following message remembering the bravery and sacrifice of First Responders to the 9/11 terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001:
“22 years ago today, we experienced the deadliest terrorist attack on our nation’s soil,” McHale wrote in an email to
NAPO members. “On September 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 of our fellow citizens gave their lives in New York City, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. This includes the more than 400 federal, state, and local public safety officers who ran into harm’s way to save others, many of whom were NAPO members.”
“As we remember those who died on September 11, 2001, we also must recognize those we have lost and continue to lose as the lasting effects of that day make themselves known,” he wrote. “As we know too well, First Responders across the country continue to die from their rescue and recovery efforts on and after 9/11 from cancers and other serious health conditions related to sustained exposure to toxins found at Ground Zero.”
This year, 62 officers who died of a 9/11-related health condition were honored by adding their names to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. In recent years, nearly 330 other 9/11 First Responders have been added to the Memorial’s walls.
“Unfortunately, this number will only continue to grow,” McHale wrote. “Today, and every day, NAPO remembers our members and all the First Responders who heroically gave their lives because of their service on September 11, 2001, and in the years after. We will forever remember these officers, their families, and all survivors of 9/11. God bless the men and women who serve our nation as law enforcement officers and God bless America.”
