9/11 First Responders Not Invited To 10th Anniversary Ceremony At Ground Zero
NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- First responders will not be invited to this year's 9/11 ceremony at Ground Zero. That's the word from city officials who say there isn't enough room for the tens of thousands of firefighters, police and other rescue workers.
LISTEN: 1010 WINS' Glenn Schuck reports
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According to a report by the Daily News, security issues and making sure that all of the victims' families will be able to participate in the 10th anniversary of 9/11, contributed to first responders not being invited to the ceremony.
Phil, a construction worker at Ground Zero, says the city needs to figure out a way to have first responders at this anniversary.
"I think that they should be allowed to go because too many of their brothers and sisters lost their lives and they should be the first ones that are included," he said. "They should make it happen. I'm sure there are going to be a lot of people here who shouldn't be here."
First responders will be given a separate ceremony at a later date.
Both President Barack Obama and former president George W. Bush will be at this year's ceremony as well as former mayor Rudy Giuliani and other dignitaries, meaning extra security will be on hand.
In addition, only a limited number of lawmakers from the Tri-state area will be allowed to attend.
On Friday, House Speaker Rep. John Boehner said the government would be paying for representatives from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to attend the ceremony.
An estimated 91,000 police, firefighters and other first responders helped with the search and rescue efforts in the wake of the September 11th attacks.
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