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HEART 9/11 AND UNION CARPENTERS

REBUILDING PUERTO RICO

Every year, the UBC Eastern District hosts a conference Heart 9/11 and Union Carpenters have been on the
that brings together staff and rank-and-file members ground in the aftermath of natural disasters all over
from four regional councils for a day and a half of the world. Most recently, we have partnered our efforts
interactive presentations and work sessions. One of the again to help our fellow Americans rebuild in the
highlights of this year's agenda was a presentation from wake of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Carpenters
Heart 9/11 founder Bill Keegan. from all over the country were the first to reach out
to Heart 9/11 after Maria. Last year, General President
On September 11th, 2001, Bill Keegan was serving as a
Douglas McCarron called on then Eastern District Vice
Port Authority Lieutenant. In the immediate aftermath
President Michael Capelli to begin working with our
of the terror attacks, he was assigned to the position
sister regional councils to send teams of volunteers
of Night Operations Commander of the World Trade
to help rebuild homes. Even today, two years later, a
Center Rescue and Recovery Mission. Over the next
sea of blue tarps can be seen where roofs should be.
nine months, Bill would spend every waking hour
Foundations continue to erode, and residents fear what
overseeing the dedicated team of highly trained first
will happen when they must weather the next hurricane
responders and volunteers who committed their lives to
season with only a thin blue layer to shield them from
the heartbreaking WTC Recovery effort.
200 mph winds.
HEART 9/11's vision is to assure that small
and large communities alike have access Throughout his presentation, Bill repeatedly praised
to the unique skills of highly trained and the compassion and care of our members. In the years
experienced New York Police Department since he founded Heart 9/11, he said he doesn't see this
(NYPD), Port Authority Police Department kind of involvement and support from corporations.
(PAPD), Fire Department of New York (FDNY), Bill described our volunteers as "fine, committed
Greater NY Building Trades and emergency people who only want to help others." He closed out his
personnel in times of crisis, whether across presentation with this: "In times of crisis, I have seen
our country or internationally.
the importance of hope and faith. Taking your grief and
Bill said that, of all the volunteers present after the doing something good with it can literally change your
rescue effort had been exhausted the hard labor of life and the lives of others."
recovery began, it was the expertise of the building
Today, Eastern District Vice President William
trades, including Union Carpenters, that got the
Waterkotte is now overseeing this volunteer effort.
work moving. That experience led Bill to form Heart
He put it plainly: "Building lives, communities, and
9/11, a 400 member volunteer organization with a
careers are part of our union values. Our mission in
single mission.
Puerto Rico is clear: to build up a middle class and help
change lives by providing our fellow Americans with
GO TO FLICKR ALBUM roofs over their heads and a path to a lifelong career."

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