Sept. 11 aid denied

[DoYouEverWonder]

Justice Department rules family of volunteer EMT who died at Ground Zero is not eligible for benefit because he was not on active duty
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

September 23, 2006

Glenn Winuk was found in the ashes of the World Trade Center with surgical gloves on his hands and a medic's bag at his side. A card in his wallet identified him as a volunteer firefighter.

The discovery confirmed what friends already knew. As the towers burned, the 40-year-old lawyer had rushed from his nearby office to offer help as a veteran EMT.

"He died a hero," said his brother, Jay.

Yet, in the eyes of the federal government, he did not die in the line of duty.

In a decision sent to Winuk's parents days before the fifth anniversary of his death, the Justice Department rejected their application for a $250,000 benefit for public safety officers killed on the job.

Its reasoning was apologetically bureaucratic; while Winuk was an associate member of the Jericho Fire Department, he hadn't been on active duty since 1998.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/ny-nyhero234903426sep23,0,2380122.story?coll=ny-nynews-print


At the WTC a lot of retired rescue workers went to the site and tried to help save the victims. Even the fireman Bush was hanging on during his bullhorn moment was a retiree. Ironic that he wouldn't be eligible for compensation either under this ruling.

[razors edge]

1. Could former military personel

use this decision to argure against recall to armed service? Nah it only works one way I'm sure. What was I thinking?

[rodeodance]

2. the Feds show their colors and it is not compassion.

[tanyev]

3. This is exactly the kind of situation for which so many Americans

donated money. At least for me it is. Whatever happened to all the money given to the Red Cross and other organizations? Did they disburse it all already?

[ogradda]

4. I'd say he was on active duty.

Or do they think he died of passive duty?

[JerseygirlCT]

5. Disgusting. nt

[Corgigal]

6. My husband received the funds from this act

He was also denied, and this with an audio of the incident and the guy sentenced by a jury for 25 years to life.

Keep fighting family, that is what we did. Took a few years, got our Dem Senator involved. I hope it works out for them.