With violent pro-Hamas protests erupting on our nation’s campuses, millions of illegal aliens swarming across the southern border, and a mentally declining president who seems like he can barely get through a sentence—much less run the most powerful nation on earth—it can seem like all the news is bad these days. The tale of Derek Floyd, the FDNY firefighter who died of a heart attack after being fired because New York City needed money for illegal aliens, leaving his family with nothing because he was just short of becoming eligible for benefits, certainly fits into the “tragic” category.
RedState’s Nick Arama brought you the story:
See:
Derek Floyd was a true hero, and he and his family deserve better than this... We have a $110 billion budget– you would think amidst all that, the city would be able to find a way to guarantee that the family of a hero can receive proper benefits.https://t.co/1inIFb2GOu
— Joann Ariola NYC Council District 32 (@JoannAriola32) April 30, 2024
But there’s some happier news Friday: The non-profit foundation Tunnel to Towers has paid off the mortgage of Floyd’s grieving widow, Christine, throwing a desperately needed lifeline to the mother of two.
She was overjoyed by the news:
“When I received the phone call, I had to pull over to the side of the road because I couldn’t stop sobbing,” Christine said Friday. “This is a miracle from God in the midst of such a storm.
“I am very grateful for Frank Siller and the Tunnel to Towers Foundation for assisting my family after Derek’s passing, Derek would have been grateful and proud that his service to his country is being repaid and honored to his family,” she added.
The foundation posted a statement to its website:
Floyd was a devoted husband and father, who loved spending time with his children. In his free time, Floyd enjoyed rock-climbing and hiking, spending time with friends and family, playing video games, and watching the New York Jets.
FDNY Probationary Firefighter Derek Floyd is survived by his wife, Christine, his six-year-old son, Ethan, and his 2-year-old daughter, Abigail.
Due to the loss of his role with the FDNY, Floyd and his family were deprived of medical benefits and over $600,000 worth of death benefits, leaving his family devastated and in financial ruin.
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation announced it has paid, in full, the mortgage on the Floyd family home. [Emphasis mine.]
Tunnel to Towers, or T2T, was founded after the 9/11 terror attacks and is named after the path taken by firefighter Stephen Siller as he rushed to the Twin Towers, where he was killed. The foundation’s "About" page describes his impact, even after death:
Stephen had everything to live for; a great wife, five wonderful children, a devoted extended family, and friends. Stephen’s parents were lay Franciscans and he grew up under the guiding philosophy of St. Francis of Assisi, whose encouraging and inspirational phrase “while we have time, let us do good” were words that Stephen lived by. Stephen’s life and heroic death serve as a reminder to us all to live life to the fullest and to spend our time here on earth doing good – this is his legacy.
The foundation has helped many 9/11 first responders and their families as well as military veterans. It is also paying off the mortgages of four officers who were tragically gunned down Monday in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Tunnel to Towers is honored to provide mortgage-free homes for the families of four fallen North Carolina law enforcement officers: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer Joshua Eyer, NC Department of Adult Corrections Investigators Samuel Poloche & William Elliott, and Deputy U.S.… pic.twitter.com/dyhGVI62oX
— Tunnel to Towers Foundation (@Tunnel2Towers) May 2, 2024
Councilmember Joann Ariola (R-Queens) summed up her feelings about Derek Floyd perfectly:
“It’s great to see the Tunnel to Towers Foundation step up to support the family of a true American hero during their time of need.”
“The Floyds should never have been in this situation in the first place, but I am glad to see there are amazing organizations out there who will step up to the plate to make things right when the city fails,” she said.
While this certainly won’t bring back Derek, it will take some of the overwhelming financial burden off Christine’s shoulders. There’s lots of bad news out there, but this story brings a little warmth to the heart.
Related:
NYC 'Tribute in Light,' Live Name-Reading to Honor 9/11 Victims Back ON After Public Outcry
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