Smithtown Schools Visited By 9/11 Firefighter

SMITHTOWN, NY — Michael O'Connell, a retired FDNY firefighter who was at Ground Zero on Sept. 11, 2001, visited both Smithtown High School East and Smithtown High School West on Friday to discuss his experience with students, the school district announced.

O'Connell shared details of what transpired that day. He also spoke about his work getting the The James Zadronga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act passed with actor, host and activist, Jon Stewart.

O'Connell had been a member of the FDNY for only four months when the 9/11 attacks occurred. In 2007, he was diagnosed with sarcoidosis from his time working at Ground Zero. Sarcoidosis is an auto-immune disease that can cause tissue to swell painfully.

The 11th graders listened to O'Connell speak about his work to ensure that first responders and others now fighting illnesses because of time spent near Ground Zero get adequate health care and compensation.

The Zadroga Act offers compensation to people who developed cancer or other serious health problems from 9/11, as well as family members of someone who died of an illness related to the terrorist attacks.