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Feedback: From Victims' Families: Thanks for Caring
(Editors’ note: Freelance camera operator Tom Pecorelli of NABET-CWA Local 59053, lost his life when American Airlines Flight 11 struck the World Trade Center. The following was addressed to President Morton Bahr and the CWA family.)
Sept. 11 changed our lives forever. It is difficult for me to find the words that express the deep sadness we are all profoundly experiencing.
One of the things I have been personally struggling with is the question of how will I be able to bring a child into this world in which we find ourselves? However, because of you all, I have been given the strength to be able to see my answer and what I have learned is that the 10,000 acts of kindness balances the one spectacular incident of evil.
You have helped honor the memory of someone extremely special, my husband, Tom Pecorelli, through your thoughts, prayers, sympathetic ears and generous contributions.
Though the written word pales, on behalf of my family and myself, thank you for all you have done.
Kia Pavloff-Pecorelli
New York City
(Editor’s note: Renee Newell was a volunteer organizer working to bring her fellow American Airlines passenger service agents into CWA. She died aboard American Airlines Flight 11 on Sept. 11. This letter is from her husband and son.)
To all the brothers and sisters of CWA, my son Matthew and I want to thank you. Thank you for all your cards from all over this great country. Thank you for taking the time to share with us in our loss of our Renee.
I can see why Renee had actively pursued trying to organize her fellow agents at American Airlines. She was a strong believer in what was right and what was wrong. She also loved working for her company. She just didn’t like the way her agent group was treated. I was always telling her she would have made a great shop steward.
The cards we have received have made me very proud. She made the right choice in trying to join and organize with CWA. You have made my son and me feel like we have another family to help us get through this senseless tragedy.
Again, our sincere thanks and may God bless each and every one of you and your families.
Paul Newell and Matthew Newell (age 10)
Cranston, R.I.
Keeping NYC Connected
In the midst of the Sept. 11 tragedy and sadness, heroes emerge. Let me tell you about the heroes of Local 1110: The Verizon directory assistance and call completion operators and clerks on 38th Street, the clerks on West Street and Pearl Street, and the AT&T in-language and account representatives at 32 Avenue of the Americas.
On what had been a cloudless fall morning, they suddenly found themselves in a war zone. All of NYC wanted to reach out to someone, but lines were dead or jammed.
When you have phone trouble, your first instinct is to call the operator for help. That’s exactly what happened Sept. 11. For the rest of that day, we talked to the victims and their families, and we still talk to them. Many of our heroes took messages from people on the street and called loved ones to let them know they were safe.
Not one member wanted to leave and not one failed to report to work. Some showed up at the office while they were on vacation. Retirees called to volunteer. They knew that they would be needed and they acted.
We will never be the same, but we are better thanks to the heroes of Sept. 11 and our many friends across the country. We are connected, we stand together and we are proud to be Americans.
Joyce Patrella
Executive Vice President, Local 1110
Sept. 11 changed our lives forever. It is difficult for me to find the words that express the deep sadness we are all profoundly experiencing.
One of the things I have been personally struggling with is the question of how will I be able to bring a child into this world in which we find ourselves? However, because of you all, I have been given the strength to be able to see my answer and what I have learned is that the 10,000 acts of kindness balances the one spectacular incident of evil.
You have helped honor the memory of someone extremely special, my husband, Tom Pecorelli, through your thoughts, prayers, sympathetic ears and generous contributions.
Though the written word pales, on behalf of my family and myself, thank you for all you have done.
Kia Pavloff-Pecorelli
New York City
(Editor’s note: Renee Newell was a volunteer organizer working to bring her fellow American Airlines passenger service agents into CWA. She died aboard American Airlines Flight 11 on Sept. 11. This letter is from her husband and son.)
To all the brothers and sisters of CWA, my son Matthew and I want to thank you. Thank you for all your cards from all over this great country. Thank you for taking the time to share with us in our loss of our Renee.
I can see why Renee had actively pursued trying to organize her fellow agents at American Airlines. She was a strong believer in what was right and what was wrong. She also loved working for her company. She just didn’t like the way her agent group was treated. I was always telling her she would have made a great shop steward.
The cards we have received have made me very proud. She made the right choice in trying to join and organize with CWA. You have made my son and me feel like we have another family to help us get through this senseless tragedy.
Again, our sincere thanks and may God bless each and every one of you and your families.
Paul Newell and Matthew Newell (age 10)
Cranston, R.I.
Keeping NYC Connected
In the midst of the Sept. 11 tragedy and sadness, heroes emerge. Let me tell you about the heroes of Local 1110: The Verizon directory assistance and call completion operators and clerks on 38th Street, the clerks on West Street and Pearl Street, and the AT&T in-language and account representatives at 32 Avenue of the Americas.
On what had been a cloudless fall morning, they suddenly found themselves in a war zone. All of NYC wanted to reach out to someone, but lines were dead or jammed.
When you have phone trouble, your first instinct is to call the operator for help. That’s exactly what happened Sept. 11. For the rest of that day, we talked to the victims and their families, and we still talk to them. Many of our heroes took messages from people on the street and called loved ones to let them know they were safe.
Not one member wanted to leave and not one failed to report to work. Some showed up at the office while they were on vacation. Retirees called to volunteer. They knew that they would be needed and they acted.
We will never be the same, but we are better thanks to the heroes of Sept. 11 and our many friends across the country. We are connected, we stand together and we are proud to be Americans.
Joyce Patrella
Executive Vice President, Local 1110