The former Commissioner of the Fire Department of New York City was the keynote speaker at the Opening General Session of the 107th annual convention of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC), which is running in San Diego through Thursday.
Tom Von Essen, spoke movingly of his personal observations while directing rescue and firefighting efforts from a command post dangerously near the World Trade Center on the morning of Sept. 2001.
The true heroes, said Von Essen, were the people who died. He called the civilians who perished warriors.
Von Essen praised the insurance industry for its role in the aftermath of the tragedy and he thanked NAMIC members and employees for their donation of more than half a million dollars to relief efforts for the victims and their families of last year’s terrorist attacks. NAMIC donated more than $125,000 each to: The American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, The Twin Towers Fund, The New York Times 9/11 Neediest Fund and Salvation Army relief efforts.
More than 1,700 participants are attending the convention at the San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina.
Convention attendees will also celebrate the 250th anniversary of the American mutual insurance industry and pay tribute to the first successful company, The Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire. Both were founded in 1752 by Benjamin Franklin. The Contributionship is a NAMIC member.
Eighty-six vendors are exhibiting their products and services at more than 90 booths.
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