Blair calls for posthumous 9/11 honour
Blair calls for posthumous 9/11 honour(Filed: 21/05/2005)
Tony Blair has backed calls for a posthumous honour for a British-born hero of the September 11 terrorist attacks on New York, it has emerged.
Rick Rescorla served in Vietnam
Rick Rescorla, 62, was head of security for Morgan Stanley Dean Witter when two hijacked airliners hit the World Trade Centre in 2001.
He died after helping save 2,700 people by making sure they left the South Tower before it collapsed. His body has never been found.
Originally from Hayle, west Cornwall, Mr Rescorla was granted US citizenship in the late 1960s and served in Vietnam.
In 2002 he was turned down for a UK gallantry award because he did not meet the criteria, but now the Prime Minister has supported the campaign to have his courage recognised in the United States.
In a letter to Cornish Lib Dem MP Andrew George, Mr Blair wrote: "You may be aware that there has been a campaign in the US to secure a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom for Mr Rescorla.
"It appears that no medal has yet been awarded, but we are trying to find out the current position from the US administration.
"If the award is to be made, I believe this would be the most appropriate way to recognise Mr Rescorla's bravery. However, I will certainly see that the matter continues to be fully considered."
Mr George, whose St Ives constituency includes Hayle, welcomed the Prime Minister's response.
But he said: "Frankly it is shameful that we are now nearly four years on from the terrible event itself and Rick Rescorla has not received, posthumously, what all who know about his case believe he richly deserves."
Tony Blair has backed calls for a posthumous honour for a British-born hero of the September 11 terrorist attacks on New York, it has emerged.
Rick Rescorla served in Vietnam
Rick Rescorla, 62, was head of security for Morgan Stanley Dean Witter when two hijacked airliners hit the World Trade Centre in 2001.
He died after helping save 2,700 people by making sure they left the South Tower before it collapsed. His body has never been found.
Originally from Hayle, west Cornwall, Mr Rescorla was granted US citizenship in the late 1960s and served in Vietnam.
In 2002 he was turned down for a UK gallantry award because he did not meet the criteria, but now the Prime Minister has supported the campaign to have his courage recognised in the United States.
In a letter to Cornish Lib Dem MP Andrew George, Mr Blair wrote: "You may be aware that there has been a campaign in the US to secure a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom for Mr Rescorla.
"It appears that no medal has yet been awarded, but we are trying to find out the current position from the US administration.
"If the award is to be made, I believe this would be the most appropriate way to recognise Mr Rescorla's bravery. However, I will certainly see that the matter continues to be fully considered."
Mr George, whose St Ives constituency includes Hayle, welcomed the Prime Minister's response.
But he said: "Frankly it is shameful that we are now nearly four years on from the terrible event itself and Rick Rescorla has not received, posthumously, what all who know about his case believe he richly deserves."
posted by "Faces of the Brave" at
9:20 PM
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