NORTH BERGEN, NJ – (September 3, 2020) The Governor of New Jersey, Phil Murphy, called ILA workers “American Heroes” several months for their bravery in keeping the Port of New York and New Jersey ports open throughout this long and arduous COVID-19 pandemic. Now tens of thousands of New Jersey holiday weekend beach goers and their New York neighbors will see an aerial tribute to ILA members flying overhead at beaches in the two States throughout the Labor Day weekend.
“International Longshoremen’s Association Salutes Our Heroic Members Providing Front Line Services” is the message, along with the American Flag and ILA flag, that will fly over hundreds of miles of Jersey and New York City waterfront, beginning Friday, September 4th and continuing throughout Labor Day Monday, September 7th, 2020.
“Labor Day Weekend is a perfect time to salute the courageous members of the International Longshoremen’s Association,” said International President Harold J. Daggett. “For more than seven months now, ILA members have demonstrated that they are powerful front-line workers, keeping our ports up and running, throughout this Corona Virus pandemic.
“I want to remind the many families who travel to the beaches this weekend that Labor Day is our special holiday and that they should thank their ILA neighbors for a job well done,” continued President Daggett. “Critical medical supplies; food and clothing have been shipped throughout this pandemic and ILA members were on the job loading and unloading this important cargo. The ILA salutes the doctors, nurses, and many other front-line workers who have provided critical services throughout this world-wide crisis. Our ILA members belong in that same class. We are so proud of them.”
Planes will carry this tribute message to the Greater Metropolitan area beaches, but the Labor Day Salute applies to all tens of thousands of ILA members at all its ports, from Maine to Texas; the Great Lakes; Puerto Rico and Canada, for keeping critical cargo moving this year throughout North America.
“On behalf of my fellow ILA Executive Officers, I wish all ILA members and their families and happy, safe and enjoyable Labor Day Weekend, and we hope many will enjoy the aerial banner saluting the great work of my beloved ILA members,” said President Daggett.