John Feal, Honoree

9/11 Responder, 9/11 & Veteran Advocate, Founder & President of the FealGood Foundation, Founder & Chairman of the 9/11 Responders Remembered Park, Kidney Donor, Congressional Medal of Honor Winner for Citizens Above & Beyond, NYS Liberty Award Recipient, NYC Bronze Medallion Honoree, Pat Tillman Foundation Honoree, NY Presidential Emmy Honoree

John Feal is best known for his work with the FealGood Foundation (“FGF”), a 9/11 First Responder advocacy group that has provided both economic aide and individual comfort to countless First Responders, as well as his tireless efforts on behalf of those Responders in the passage of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. However, his leadership characteristics were borne well before the creation of the FGF.

John’s individual determination was evident from an early age. In high school he was Captain of his wrestling team at Commack High School and was twice named to the All County wrestling team. Commack High School honored John years later with the ‘Alumni of Recognition Award” and is one of only 47 past Alumni to have been awarded such recognition.

Following his service in the United States Army, Airborne Division, John began working in the construction industry as a Demolition Expert. Rising through the ranks with John’s typical tenacity he quickly headed up a team of demolition experts working throughout New York on numerous construction projects. It would be John’s final project as a demolition expert that would change his life forever.

On September 12th, 2001, John and his team were ordered to report to what is now referred to as “Ground Zero” in order to aid in the cleanup and recovery mission following the terror attacks at the World Trade Center. Without hesitation, and with a sense of pride in serving his country in a time of need, John and his team reported as ordered. Tragically, on John’s fifth day on site he became the one that needed aid. While supervising his team a steel beam weighing approximately 8,000 pounds came loose from the huge pile of debris, crushing John’s left foot. Following eleven weeks in the hospital doctors decided it was medically necessary to amputate half of John’s foot. Subsequently, John went through years of surgeries and innumerable hours of therapy; as well as extensive stays in the hospital for follow up treatments.

John quickly learned the multitude of bureaucratic horrors that come with being severely injured. He experienced hurdle after hurdle with mounting medical bills and no income. Fed up with hearing the word ‘No’ from insurance companies, doctors, and elected officials, John decided that no American should be treated so egregiously, especially those that had come to this country’s aid in its greatest hour of need. Once out of the hospital John made it his mission to help alleviate the many obstacles he had endured; he founded the FGF.

Through its grass roots fundraising the FGF has raised and donated over $10 million dollars to individuals gravely affected by the aftermath of the September 11th attacks. Surrounding himself with the best of the best, John’s advocacy on behalf of First Responders has reached epic heights. He was awarded the New York State Congressional Medal of Honor for Civilians “Above & Beyond” for his continuous advocacy on behalf of First Responders and for his selfless act of donating a kidney to a complete stranger.

Beginning in 2004, John and the FGF team began storming the halls of Congress, coining a new lobbying term “guerilla lobbying.” John’s team of dozens educated every Congressional member on legislation that would provide both health care and compensation to 9/11 First Responders who had become ill because of their efforts at Ground Zero, H.R. 847, better known as the James Zadroga Health and Compensation Act.

On December 22rd, 2010, just three days before Christmas and while holding the U.S. Senate & Congress from starting their holiday break, John and his team watched the proud moment where their hard work and sweat culminated in a unanimous vote of the United States Senate to pass the Zadroga Act.

As the Zadroga Act was set to expire in 2015, John again worked tirelessly to ensure the Zadroga Act would be renewed... Utilizing the same tactics as 2010, John and his team again made numerous trips to congressional offices and espoused the virtues of the law. On December 18th 2015, the FGF helped ensure that all 9/11 First Responders would have healthcare for their illnesses till 2090.

Again in 2019, John and team were instrumental in extending the VCF until 2090 to ensure who had a certified 9/11 illness, were compensated for their illnesses. 

In 2022, John teamed up with his friend Jon Stewart and led the charge in passing the largest healthcare ever for Veterans affected by Burn Pits around the World. The Pact Act was a $300 billion lifesaving piece of legislation. Since then over one million Veterans have utilized the VA for their exposure to Burn Pits.

Since 2004 John’s unstoppable determination and advocacy skills have been credited for the passing of  19 pieces of legislation at the State & Federal level in DC, NYS, NJ, and Michigan. 

John through all his selfless accomplishments is most proud of spearheading the efforts that lead to the 9/11 Responders Remembered Park located in Smithtown, NY. This park humbly recognizes those we lost to 9/11 Illnesses because of their heroic actions. This park stands alone as the first memorial in our nation that is dedicated to yesterday’s heroes from 9/11 who passed from their illnesses.

Today, John remains steadfast in his activism on behalf of First Responders and continues his grassroots efforts to help all those in need. To his core, John knows his mission of advocacy will never cease to be needed; it is, has been, and always will be about one thing… “The Responders”.

Press Coverage

John Feal has been prominently featured in several documentaries and books: No Responders Left Behind seen on CNN Films, Spike Lee's 4 part series on HBO NY Epi-Center, Robert Greenwald’s Sierra Club Chronicles 9/11 Forgotten Heroes, Bridget Gormley's Dust and in Heidi-Dehncke-Fisher’s Dust to Dust: The Health Effects of 9/11. John has also been interviewed by 60 Minutes, the Daily Show, WPIX, NEWS12, CNN, FOX, ABC, CBS, NBC, Air America Radio, Nightline, Newsweek, Rolling Stone, the New York Daily News, the NY Post, New York Newsday, Vanity Fair and the Daily Beast and all major radio & print, and by Michael Moore for his film Sicko. As one of the Ground Zero movement’s most p

assionate and informed spokespersons, he is high sought after by the print and broadcast media.