 | | Featured for this Week | With the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, we recognize those lost that day at New York's World Trade Center and the Pentagon in Washington, DC in 2001. To many, NYPD officer Luis Alvarez (pictured above, in 2007) is the hero for those who still suffer from the health consequences of that horrific event.
Marine Luis Alvarez died nearly 18 years after that fateful date, of colorectal cancer, a victim of contaminants at the World Trade Center when he was one of the first responders at the scene. He spent three months at "Ground Zero" in lower Manhattan after the attacks. His dying legacy was to secure continued financial assistance for 40,000 emergency personnel and others affected by the attacks. | |
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 | | Scott's View | The 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks on our nation is two weeks away. This is a deeply emotional time for all of us, especially those who served on that day and since. The blood, sweat, and ultimate sacrifice of so many is a lasting memory for millions of Americans and their families. Today, we pause to remember one who served with honor during and since that fateful day: The Marines Corps’s own Luis Alvarez, our WeSalute (founded as Veterans Advantage) HeroVet.
As an NYPD officer on 9/11/2001, he was a first responder at the scene and remained there for three months. He then fell victim to the severe contaminants amid the rubble, became ill with cancer, yet championed the rights of those who also fell ill. He demonstrated the qualities of the best among us with his courage and determination. Luis Alvarez's inspirational story truly embodied his Marine motto "Semper Fi." | |
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