(CBS News Radio)
NEW YORK — An emotional Jon Stewart, who was on Capitol Hill on Tuesday for a Congressional hearing on the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund, was given the turnout coat of FDNY legend Ray Pfeifer, who died from 9/11-related cancer two years ago.
Pfeifer, who served more than 27 years with the FDNY, was at the World Trade Center after the buildings collapsed on Sept. 11, 2001 and worked for months on the toxic pile at ground zero.
He was diagnosed with cancer in 2009 and made the trip to Capitol Hill dozens of times to lobby for 9/11 health and compensation bills before his death at age 59 in 2017.
Retired FDNY firefighter Kenny Specht presented Pfeifer's East Meadow Fire Department bunker coat to Stewart, who delivered the euology at Pfeifer's funeral, outside a Congressional hearing room on Tuesday.
John Feal, who runs the 9/11 advocacy organization FealGood Foundation, purchased the coat Monday after it was put up for auction by Pfeifer's brother.
"John Feal paid handsomely for this yesterday and outbid three other people to see to it that he took possession of this coat," Specht said. "John wanted Jon Stewart to have this."
Several 9/11 first responders signed the coat before it was given to the comedian.
"I believe everybody here today in this hallway has learned brotherhood and camraderie because we all have one mission," Specht said. "We appreciate your help Jon, and this comes from John and this comes from everybody in this hallway."
Comments