Once again, the country is honoring the First Responders who fell on 9/11. Big ceremonies are happening all over the land with politicians using the date to get photo ops with firefighters and police. Then on 9/12, they will go back and continue the fight to take away benefits negotiated by us, which we worked 25 to 30 years of daily danger for. When we left our families to go to work, our wives and children did not know if they would see us come home. Many of my friends have died early deaths from cancer and stress caused by our job. As of today, the City of San Jose is trying to cut our benefits down substantially; one by 66%.

Keep the ceremonies and accolades and give us what was promised. That will honor those who gave all there is to give.