The Middletown High School cafeteria was packed with hundreds enjoying a dinner of penne pasta, chicken and sausage and peppers at a fundraiser for the families of victims killed at the Kleen Energy explosion in February.
"Everyone we asked to help wanted to know what they could do to help," said Jim Sipperly, a city employee and one of the main organizers of the event with fellow municipal employee John Milardo. "There was only one company who refused to help," Sipperly added. "And they are the obvious exception for this particular fundraiser."Volunteers wore bright yellow t-shirts and served food, cleared tables and made sure every guest had everything they needed.
"The stories here today are incredible," said Common Council member Bob Santangelo as he wheeled a garbage can into place. "This is the first time that some of the workers on the plant have been reunited."Families of victims, some of whom traveled many miles to the event, were kept sequestered from the press.
Local and state dignitaries mingled with the attendees, and gathered in a short ceremony to honor the fallen workers.
"On February 7 there were a number of heroes in Middletown," Mayor Sebastian Giuliano said, directly addressing the families seated together in one section of the high school gymnasium. "But six of those heroes never came home. And they were heroes. The business of building America is a dangerous job."
"In spite of the awful tragedy of last February, these six will live in our hearts," said US Representative Rosa Delauro.
"Before today I didn't know you. I hadn't met you," said organizer John Milardo. "But this is something we had to do."
Great job! Lots of others were there too - State Rep. Jim O'Rourke, Senator Tom Gaffey and our State Comptroller Nancy Wyman!
ReplyDeletethank all of you who gave their time and effort and support to this event. I am eternally grateful.
ReplyDeleteTodd Berch
Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 777
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro spoke and Congressman Joe Courtney stopped by for dinner.
ReplyDeleteYou see...city employees are not as bad as all you bloggers think!
ReplyDeleteProud of U
ReplyDeleteKudos to JOHN MILARDO for his great idea for this fundraiser and congrats to all of the union and non-union volunteers for all of their hard work.
Thank you to all our new family members of Middletown for all your love, support, care, effort, and friendship for us in this challenging time of our lives. You are all so wonderful that 'thank you' doesn't seem to express our gratitude enough. God has blessed us by having Chris in our world first, and now He has blessed us, again, by sending YOU into our world now.
ReplyDeleteLove, Fran Walters, and family in St. Louis(Florissant) MO
To all the many, many, Kleen Energy volunteer workers, donators, speakers, and attendees; a thank you is really not sufficient enough. You all have my unending gratitude and respect. Nothing could have been done, without any of you.
ReplyDeleteI am still amazed at how quickly and effectively the fundraiser committee put this event together in just six weeks. If one or two volunteers were needed, we got twenty. If we asked a donor for an item or money(if we had to ask at all),we recieved twice as much as requested. If someone was asked to work a couple of hours, they worked and put in an entire day. It was just an unbelievable effort and expierence.
The families of these men are part of our community; for now and forever. We have a bond with them which is greater than a dinner, or a raffle. We have given and recieved a mutual respect and love for each other. They will always be part of us, and us them.
To all my Union Brothers and Sisters, and especially to those who worked and do not know what it means and feels like to be in a Union; you do now. You are now considered our Brothers and Sisters: Thank you for everything.
With gratitude and respect,
John Milardo, MMPA President