Paying a tribute to James Zadroga; the hero of 9/11 terror attack

When the world salutes the martyrs of the 9/11 World Trade Centre tragedy, James Zadroga is one of the first names to be remembered.

Besides being an active volunteer in the relief and rescue operations of the 9/11 terror attack and a sincere New York Police Department officer throughout his tenure, James Zadroga has lot more applause to his credit.

To begin with James Zadroga, like many other police officers, firemen, paramedic staff, city workers, clean-up workers etc. has contracted a sever disease as a result of getting over- exposed to harmful chemicals present on the attack site of the Twin Towers. However, though this devastating, life-threatening disease eventually took his life in the year 2006, James Zadroga spent his sickness fighting with the government to make provisions to provide suitable compensations for all those like him, who had become critically ill as a result of participating in the 9/11 rescue and relief operations.

Though he unfortunately did not see a break- through during his lifetime, but his death did not go in vain. Finally in January 2011, the president of the United States of America, signed the James Zadroga Act, respectfully named after the heroic James Zadroga. This act was meant to provide death benefits to Ground Zero workers, who die from cancer or respiratory diseases, because of being exposed to toxics during the 9/11 recovery efforts. Also, under this act, all living people, fallen prey to any 9/11 related health conditions, are eligible for receiving adequate health care facilities to treat the same.

Benefits include both health monitoring as well as financial aid. This act not only covered rescue operation workers of the 9/11 incident, but also the residents of the World Trade Center area, as well as students attending school and people employed in the area during the 9/11 terrorist attack. Once proved to be genuine victims, the government promised to provide them with suitable compensations, to shoulder the burden of the disease they had unfortunately contracted while performing the heroic act of rescuing victims from the 9/11 attack site.

The Zadroga compensation comes as a huge relief to all those bearing the brunt of the 9/11 attack. Those critically ill from chronic diseases such as Airway Disease, Acid Reflux Disease, chronic bronchitis, Obstructive Lung Defects , occupational asthma ,Sarcoidosis, Asbestosis and Mesothelioma Cancer, are naturally unfit to work and support themselves financially. Moreover, even if the health of some of them does allow them to take up a job to provide for themselves, they are often sidelined and ignored over other physically fit and healthier candidates.

Thus, it is spiteful but true to note that many of the heroic 9/11 victims who had risked their health and lives during the 9/11 attack, to rescue their trapped fellow citizens, are leading such unsupportive and sorry lives. They have been literally condemned by society, are subject to unrespectful sympathy by those around them, are unable to support themselves and are depending on Zadroga lawyers to help bring some light into their dismal lives.