May 25, 2020
Dear Sisters and Brothers:
I extend warm fraternal greetings to you and your families as our nation celebrates Memorial Day 2020.
Our union – the International Longshoremen’s Association – proudly acknowledges that our union’s flag that bears our initials “I.L.A.” also represents I Love America.
On Memorial Day, we honor all men and women who died in military service for the United States of America. As a U.S. Navy Veteran who served during the Vietnam War, I witnessed fellow soldiers who made the Supreme sacrifice for our nation. We can never fully repay the sacrifices of those who heroically gave their lives in battle, but we must always honor and remember them.
The past eight weeks have tested our courage and determination as our nation and the world continues to battle this COVID-19 Pandemic. Our ILA membership, strong and united, have risen to the challenge of keeping our ports open, keeping our workplace areas safe and sanitized and keeping commerce moving.
Just as our ILA has expertly loaded vital military cargo for our American soldiers in times of war, so too do our present-day ILA workforce help deliver medical and PPE supplies to our doctors and nurses; critical cargo to our other fellow first responders and food and other goods to the American public.
We proudly take our place as American Heroes during this COVID-19 crisis. This past week, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao praised American longshoremen as “Dedicated Professionals.”
May God bless you and your families this Memorial Day 2020 and God Bless and Protect our United States of America.