At their annual celebration on June 14, the DC 37 Irish Heritage Committee proved the saying is true: You can't keep the Irish down.

Months of planning go into the event, which is usually held in March, but the attacks on the World Trade Center closed union headquarters through mid-February. "We were not going to let the terrorists stop us. We're just a little later this year," said Committee Vice Chair Kathy Fitzgerald.

The event began with a moment of silence in memory of those who perished in the attack. At each place was a booklet titled, "Sept. 11, 2001: We'll Never Forget." Compiled by committee member Bernadette Enzmann, the moving 22-page publication included photographs, poems and articles about the 9-11 tragedy.

After an invocation by the Rev. Lawrence E. Lucas, a Chaplain and member of Local 299, the careful planning showed as the program moved smoothly from music to speeches and poetry and back to a stepdance performance by the Tir Na Gael School and dance music by the Hittmen.

Participants applauded the Knights of Columbus Pipe Band, which includes Local 2507 member John Manning and Local 1320 members Mike Donovan and Sean Scaglione. As the skirl of their bagpipes faded, Committee Chair John Townsend, the president of Local 1322, introduced DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts.

"Like the city itself, DC 37 is a living testament to diversity, a blend of many immigrant cultures and national identities with a common goal - a better life for working people," said Ms. Roberts.

She spoke of the "great Irish leaders" who helped "build our organization from humble beginnings to the city's largest public employee union." In her talk, she cited three who meant a lot to her personally: Secretary Colleen Detroy, longtime Research and Negotiations Director Dennis Sullivan, and the late Edward Maher, who like Ms. Roberts was a DC 37 Associate Director during the growth years of the 1960s and '70s.

The committee's annual awards went to Ms. Roberts, Ms. Fitzgerald and recent retiree Marion Cox, who served on the Irish Heritage Committee for 10 years.

DC 37 Secretary Edward W. Hysyk discussed the contributions of Irish leaders and members to the history of New York City, New York State and the labor movement.

Ray Simons, an Emergency Medical Technician who was involved in the Ground Zero rescue effort, read from his poems. The Local 2507 member evoked powerfully the horror of the mass deaths on 9-11 and the brave response of city workers.