By Alexander Dworkowitz
Police officers, firefighters and families of Sept. 11 victims were honored by the Flushing YMCA at the Kum Gang San Restaurant in Flushing last Thursday evening for the organization’s 76th Anniversary dinner.
“Every cloud has a silver lining, even one as black as this,” said Deputy Chief Edward Cannon of the New York Police Department. “The unity of the department is one that I’ve never experienced in my 20 years at the department.”
Cannon was speaking on behalf of Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik, who was scheduled to receive the YMCA Distinguished Public Leadership Award. Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen were also scheduled to appear to accept the award, but the three were not able to attend.
The Flushing YMCA presented two $1,000 checks to both the Firefighter’s Widow Fund and the Police Officer’s Widow Fund on behalf of the officers and firefighters present.
“The money is appreciated, but the support we’ve gotten from this community in the last few months is even more appreciated,” said Capt. Sheldon Barocas of Ladder Co. 129.
Three families who are members of the Flushing YMCA lost relatives or had relatives who were injured in the collapse of the World Trade Center. The families of Julian, Angela and Erika Yu of Flushing, Martha and Vanessa Munoz of Flushing and Marmily Cabrera and Jasen Checo of Bayside were awarded one-year scholarships to all Flushing YMCA services as part of the YMCA Sept. 11 Program Scholarship Fund.
“Unfortunately, three of our families were personally affected by these events,” said Peter Rosario, urging the members of YMCA to speak with them.
Rosario, who estimated the scholarship was worth $5,000 per child, later said the fund was open to all residents in northeast Queens who had lost a relative in the attacks or worked as rescue workers.
Despite the painful memory of Sept. 11, the evening was upbeat. Jill Fagen led the crowd in the singing of “God Bless America,” and a choir of children from the YMCA entertained the crowd with Christmas carols.
“This year holds a lot more meaning than any in the past,” said Mansoo Lee, chairman of the Flushing YMCA’s annual campaign. “This is the year that the American people have shown their courage and patriotism to the entire world.”
Thomas Hazell, executive director of the Flushing YMCA, described the impact of the YMCA on the area. According to Hazell, the 400 volunteers and staff of 325 serve 25,000 children and adults throughout northeast Queens. In terms of children served, the Flushing YMCA is the second largest YMCA in the nation.
“We make a tremendous impression on the people in our community,” he said.
Cannon agreed, praising the work of the YMCA as helping reduce crime and improving the community.
“It makes our job a lot easier,” he said. “Because if you get to your children when they are young, the only time I’m going to run into them is at events like this.”
Reach Reporter Alexander Dworkowitz by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 141.
