Donations Continue To Pour In, Mortgages Of Fallen NYPD Cops To Be Paid In Full
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police Commissioner Bil Bratton visited a memorial to two fallen NYPD officers on Friday.
Commissioner Bratton worked his way down the line shaking hands with officers who were there, as the memorial continued to grow.
As CBS2's Weijia Jiang reported, efforts were also underway to help the families of the two fallen heroes.
A 9/11 charity is working to help pay off the mortgages on the homes of the two NYPD officers who were ambushed and killed in Brooklyn.
The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation announced Friday that it will be paying the mortgages in full for the families of Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos.
The foundation made the announcement in Staten Island along with former Mayor Rudy Guiliani and Liu's widow, Pei Xia Chen.
"We want to help lift them out of some of the despair that they're in today," said Chairman Frank Siller.
Chen is feeling a pain that Siller knows all too well. He lost his brother on 9/11.
Mortgages Of Fallen NYPD Cops To Be Paid In Full
So far, the foundation has raised $70,000 with a goal of $800,000. Giuliani said he was pledging $20,000 of his own money.
"They should be in a position where, so that for the rest of their lives, they never have to worry about material things," Giuliani said. "It doesn't bring back either one of these great men. But it does help."
Governor Andrew Cuomo agreed. He stressed the importance of helping the families, not only emotionally, but practically too.
"Let's respect the family. Let's help the family grieve, find ways to help the family through this. Whether it's financial support, education with kids, and then we'll move forward with learning lessons," the governor said.
Donations have been pouring in.
The Brooklyn Nets gave $10,000, the New York Yankees will pay for the education of Ramos' sons. Even strangers have been opening their wallets.
"Seeing everyone pull together shows strength, and that you can pull through," Andreana Simonelli said.
Earlier this week, Liu's widow came out of their Gravesend, Brooklyn home and spoke tearfully about the road ahead and how loved ones and strangers are helping the family.
As CBS2's Dave Carlin reported, the Liu family did not make any public comments at the news conference on Friday.
Liu's funeral arrangements haven't been announced as yet. Officials are working to bring his family over from China for the event.
Major airlines were donating flights so the loved ones of both slain officers could get to New York in time for the services.
Officer Liu's aunts, uncles, and numerous cousins are expected to arrive in New York from China by early next week.
A wake for Ramos is being held Friday in Queens. His funeral is set for Saturday.
For more information or to donate, visit tunnel2towers.org.
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