Jon Stewart champions heroes at National First Responders Day event in Times Square
As part of National First Responders Day, comedian and advocate Jon Stewart helped honor heroes in the heart of Times Square on Tuesday morning.
The gathering was designed to celebrate the men and women from across the country who have risked their own lives to save others.
Stewart's noted advocacy for first responders
Stewart has spent years advocating for 9/11 first responders, including joining with the First Responders Children's Foundation to help the children and families of first responders who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
He has also been a prominent supporter of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act and its permanent reauthorization, including pushing for the Never Forget the Heroes Act in 2019, which provided long-term funding for the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund for ailing first responders and survivors.
"It's important for their morale to understand when they selflessly have our backs every day, 24/7, there's no respite for them," Stewart said Tuesday. "For us to be able to say, 'Hey man, we've got your back, too.'"
Organizers said the event is about more than recognition; it's about helping the children and families of first responders.
"We give emergency grants if they have monetary issues, college scholarships, free counseling," said Al Kahn, founder and chairman of the First Responders Children's Foundation.
FDNY, NYPD, MTA Police members honored in Times Square
Stewart was referring to first responders like FDNY firefighter Nick Schneider, who was honored for a daring rescue in January, when he jumped onto subway tracks to save an unconscious woman seconds before a train arrived.
"I just jumped over the turnstiles, made my way down there, took a peek, first to see if I could terminate the power on the track. We call it the blue light, which is where the power shut-off is," Schneider said. "It was just too far in the southbound direction, so I just ran up the platform. That was it, jumped on the tracks."
Later, the woman tracked Schneider down to thank him in person.
"It was really wonderful meeting her family, her daughter... great people," Schneider said.
Other first responders honored included NYPD Officer Rich Wong and MTA Police Officers Scott Glick and Christopher Capozzoli.
Wong was shot in the leg during an armed robbery in Queens last November, but even while injured he returned fire and stopped the suspect. Video showed him being wheeled out of the hospital.
"I feel good. I always wanted to do this job. I'm blessed to be able to continue doing this job. It's a great feeling to be able to serve," Wong said.
The foundation also recognized 17-year-old Jiya Jadhav, the junior Firefighter of the Year, who is already making a difference in her community.
"I think I just have something in me that always wants to help people no matter what the situation," Jadhav said.
She said the courage of these heroes is what inspired her to follow in their footsteps.