By
ALFREDO ALVARADO
Posted: November
29, 2001
Members of Local 420 starred in Harlem Oct. 10 at
a special tribute to hospital workers who treated the victims and joined in the
rescue effort at the World Trade Center.
You are the everyday heroes,"
DC 37 Administrator Lee Saunders told the dedicated employees of the cityís
Health and Hospitals Corp. Thank you very much for your commitment and hard
work. Describing the role of DC 37 members in coping with the crisis, he
said, We have hope and we have character and we will continue to fight for
what is right.
Local 420s "Special Service of Jubilee:
From Tragedy to Hope!" was held at the Metropolitan AME Church and featured
a performance by the Gwendolyn Hooks Concert Choir.
Before hundreds of
members, Mr. Saunders offered high praise for the efforts of Local 420 and Local
President James Butler. "I'm amazed that our DC 37 building is still standing
so close to the wreckage. And just like it, despite the hard time we have been
through, Local 420 is standing tall for its members.
"The
Aides, the LPNs, so many others you were the support team and tonight we
say thank you. A real thank you, because we have so much to be grateful for,"
said Mr. Butler who on Oct. 17 honored its members at the office of the Chief
Medical Examiner.
Guest speakers included William Lucy, secretary-treasurer
of AFSCME, DC 37s parent union, New York State Comptroller H. Carl McCall,
Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields, Bronx Borough President Fernando
Ferrer and the Rev. Al Sharpton.
"I needed to be here tonight to
say thank you," said Mr. McCall after the opening prayer. "You performed
a mighty service for your city." "I came here to applaud you. You saved
lives," said Mr. Lucy.