Mayor De Blasio Presents Family Of Det. Lou Alvarez With Key To City
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Late NYPD Det. Lou Alvarez received a hero's honor Tuesday.
Mayor Bill de Blasio presented the family a Key to the City in his name.
Alvarez died of 9/11-related colorectal cancer on June 29.
Watch: Family Of Det. Luis Alvarez Awarded Key To The City
Alvarez's diagnosis came years after he spent months searching through the rubble at the World Trade Center following the 9/11 attacks.
Alvarez fought for his fellow first responders until the day he died, calling on Congress to renew the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund.
"Lou Alvarez represented the quiet heroism of acting compassionately," said comedian Jon Stewart.
"And now, thanks to him, and thanks to so many others in this room, our nation is actually going to take care of first responders and their families," de Blasio said.
MORE: 9/11-Related Illnesses Continue To Plague Firefighters, Police, EMTs And Other Rescuers
Lawmakers signed the bill to extend the fund shortly after his death.
"He didn't want to be any kind of star or hero," his brother Philip told CBS2's Dick Brennan ahead of last week's 9/11 anniversary.