Monday, February 20, 2006

Peace to Laurel

Si lo sabe dios que lo sepa el mundo

If you’re dying, you shouldn’t have to spend your remaining time alive fighting for your partner to receive your pension. But that’s what Lt. Laurel Hester did for her partner, and for all of us. A lifelong cop and member of her New Jersey Police and Firemen's Retirement System, the freeholders in charge of the system refused to turn over her benefits to her partner if she were to die. Lt. Hester was very sick from cancer yet she testified and eventually they relented. She passed away yesterday. Peace to Laurel.

Si lo sabe dios que lo sepa el mundo—If god knows, let the whole world know.

5 comments:

Anne said...

shit.
it is such an embarrasment, that people would be held to a different legal standard, based on who they love.
even when they are DYING.
shameful doesn't even come close.

bemused said...

Peace to Laurel and her partner. It is hard enough to endure terminal illness but to have to battle frustratingly stupid laws at the same time is more than anyone should have to experience.

Rigo said...

That makes me sad and happy at the same time. I'm sad that Laurel passed away, even if I didn't know her. But it makes me happy that she was able to make sure her partner was taken care of.

sttropezbutler said...

Couldn't agree with Annie more...but she fought and she won and from that we all must remember that we can fight and we can win.

We CAN WIN!

STB

pack of 2 said...

great post.

thanks

Shelly