Det. Lou Alvarez Honored At 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony In Brooklyn
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - The nation will pause Wednesday to mark the 18th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
In Brooklyn Tuesday, residents who were lost were honored. along with special tributes to other fallen heroes, including first responder NYPD Det. Lou Alvarez.
In a somber ceremony in Brooklyn Borough Hall Tuesday morning, heroes and friends lost on on 9/11 were remembered.
Brooklyn residents were remembered with a banner hanging outside, with the 266 names of men and women who died 18 years ago.
Deputy Borough President Ingrid Martin recognized the continuing battle that many first responders face today.
"We can breathe. We breathe. But so many who went into those towers can not. They're suffering with ailments. They're battling diseases, and they feel alone," she said.
This is the sixth year for the remembrance event, and this year, the continuing health crisis faced by first responders was noted in all the remarks.
"When it comes to 9/11-related illnesses, we have lost 225 people. It is the horror that keeps on giving," said NYPD First Deputy Commissioner Benjamin Tucker.
Borough President Eric Adams, a former police officer, paid special tribute to Alvarez.
"I'll always remember him saying I never wanted to be anywhere else but Ground Zero," Adams said.
Web Extra: Watch The Full Ceremony Honoring Alvarez, First Responders
Det. Alvarez died in June shortly after he appeared before Congress, calling for the extension of the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund. He's considered critical in restoring the funding, which passed this summer.
"It must deal with the trauma that we feel every day as first responders and as members of the public and members of civil service," Adams siad.
Alvarez was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer linked to 9/11 three years ago.
Alvarez's family received a standing ovation as Borough President Eric Adams awarded them a proclamation in Alvarez's honor.
Alvarez has become a face of the fight for increased aid for New York City first responders suffering from 9/11-related illnesses.
This is the first 9/11 without Alvarez. His brother accepted the proclamation in his honor.
"Immediately after that, his first though is 'I got to get in touch with my squad. I got to get in touch with the guys that were down there, the girls that were down there. It took 15 years for this thing to catch up to me. They need to know this," Alvarez's brother Philip said. "We are overwhelmed with all the love, honor and respect since we lost our brother.
The proclamation named Tuesday Luis Alvarez Celebration Day.
