Rep. Maloney pitches ticker-tape parade for 9/11 first responders

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NY) - With the recent passing of the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund Act, one local congresswoman says that the city should do more to give back to the men and women who rushed to Ground Zero that day. 

So, in a formal letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio, Rep. Carolyn Maloney Is asking for a celebration and what she calls a "proper tribute to those who take care of us on 9/11."

But, some of the first responders who would be honored by the parade think the proposal comes 18 years too late

"The only parade I think of is parading 40 people in the halls of congress for the last 10 months," said John Feal, one of the foremost faces of the fight to get benefits for 9/11 first responders.

In the opinion of Feal, a parade doesn't help the healing process. 

"I certainly don't need a parade to give me validity for what I know for what I did five days at Ground Zero before I was hurt. And what I've done for 15 years in Washington, D.C. But there are a lot of people that this might be a healing process for," Feal said.

Richie Alles, a retired FDNY Deputy Fire Chief and 9/11 first responder is one of those people.

"I think it's a great idea, the culmination of an 18-year struggle," Alles said.

FOX 5 NY did reach out to the Mayor's office to ask if they are considering a parade for the 9/11 first responders. They called the parade a great idea and that they plan on reaching out to families, first responders and advocates to put on a world-class event.