DC 37 mounts a permanent memorial to the four members who died in the World Trade Center disaster.

At a special noontime ceremony outside union headquarters Sept. 24, District Council 37 paid tribute to the four members who died at the World Trade Center.
Executive Director Lillian Roberts spoke for the entire DC 37 family as she unveiled a plaque on the side of the union building as permanent testimony to their memory.

"We honor more than their deaths," she said. "We honor their lives. And we also honor all our members who helped in the rescue and recovery effort."

Father Michael Tyson, a Franciscan friar from Holy Name Church in Jersey City, offered an opening prayer. Labor Relations Commissioner James Hanley then delivered a message from Mayor Michael Bloomberg, with a special tribute to the courage and bravery of the uniformed services on 9/11, including the Emergency Medical Service workers represented by DC 37 Locals 2507 and 3621: "We will never forget those we lost. We will rebuild a city that is worthy of their memory."

Patrick J. Bahnken, president of Local 2507, spoke movingly about the loss of his two friends and fellow union members, Paramedic Carlos Lillo and Paramedic Lieutenant Ricardo Quinn: "Their inner light shone for the entire city at a time of darkness."

Paulette Sher, Vice President of Off-Track Betting Employees Local 2021, spoke of deceased member Chet Louie: "He was a hard working man who held two jobs. Chet was at his job at Cantor Fitzgerald on that fateful morning when those planes struck the towers."

Professional Division Director Stephanie Velez spoke of the fourth member of DC 37 who died on 9/11, Father Mychal Judge, beloved Chaplain of the Fire Dept. "Father Judge lost his life on Sept. 11 doing what he did best - offering support and prayer to Firefighters in a crisis. A Brooklyn-born son of Irish immigrants, he reflected the ethnic diversity of our union—and the heroism of our members."

As Ms. Roberts removed a red velvet covering from the plaque, those in attendance rose to acknowledge the sacrifices of the living and the dead on that disastrous day. Lieutenant Quinn's widow, Virginia Quinn, was graciously appreciative of the ceremony and memorial to honor her husband. The struggles of his young widow to cope with the gap his death tore into the fabric of their close-knit family are but one reminder of the many painful losses suffered by so many families on 9/11.

The plaque constitutes a public reminder of the grievous price New York City and District Council 37 paid that day.

— Jane LaTour