Posted on 11/04/2002 10:08:39 AM PST by Jakarta ex-pat
A Cornwall-born man who saved thousands of lives in the World Trade Center has been refused a gallantry medal by the UK Government.
Rick Rescorla, originally from Hayle, led colleagues at Morgan Stanley bank to safety, singing Cornish songs to keep their spirits up.
But the government's Ceremonial Secretariat said Mr Rescorla had mainly helped non-UK citizens and an award could set a precedent.
St Ives MP Andrew George has written to US president George Bush to plead for an American posthumous award.
Mr Rescorla took charge of much of the evacuation of the World Trade Center's south tower.
It is estimated he helped save up to 2,700 people, but the 62-year-old former soldier's body has never been found.
Mr George said he and Mr Rescorla's family in Hayle were not happy with the decision.
He said: "The award nominations unit [the Ceremonial Secretariat] has responded by saying although they'd like to give an award, they don't believe they can.
"To say we are disappointed is an understatement."
The Ceremonial Secretariat said: Gallantry awards can be given to non-UK citizens who save or attempt to save the life of a UK citizen either in the UK or abroad.
"In this case Rick Rescorla is eligible but the people he helped to rescue were not exclusively UK citizens.
"If we allowed an award to be given to him then we would set a precedent which would attract recommendations with very tenuous links with the UK."
Mr George said he has written to George Bush.
He said: "As well as writing to the Vietnam's Veterans Association to seek a posthumous award in the US, I have written to the president for a Presidential Medal."
Mr Rescorla's cousin, John Daniels, said: "They should make an exception in this case."
Obviously he was an American citizen as he fought for America in Vietnam, but above all he was Cornish."
May an Election Day Victory echo the majesty of Rick Rescorla's spirit when it sailed free on 9-11 into the souls of those flying on Flight 93 with the mission of showing All America and the World the true meaning of Courage and Faith and revealed that the Spirit that IS America will not be toppled by any evil here on Earth.
Not Ever.
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