Giving BACk: Despite Tough Times, Tradition Endures

JOURNAL: ISSUE1 - 2014

Even during tough economic times, BAC members have never faltered in sharing their craft skills and resources with their communities and those in need.

 "For every story in the Journal about the many ways in which our members donate their time and energy to civic and charitable projects, there are dozens if not hundreds more examples out there. When it comes to public service, our members are as generous and unstinting as any group I know," says BAC President James Boland.

The following stories offer just a sampling of the lasting contributions BAC members have made to their neighborhoods and faith communities in recent months.

Locals 7 New York/New Jersey, 5 New Jersey and 2 Delaware/New Jersey

Mount Calvary Union Church

The 103-year-old Mount Calvary Union Church in Runnemede, NJ was badly damaged by heavy rains last summer. Thanks to members in New York, New Jersey and Delaware and volunteers from the local fire department and VFW, the church was repaired by Thanksgiving.

Members of Locals 7 NY/NJ, 5 NJ, and 2 DE/NJ helped clean the church basement, rebuild its foundation, and repair a collapsed supporting wall. A new furnace was also donated, along with gas and electrical services that otherwise would have cost tens of thousands of dollars.

From left, Local 7 NJ/NYmember John Malloy Jr., Local 5 NJ members Ted Clay, Vice President Joe Pillo, Paul Sustek, Sean Orem, Steve Hall of the Runnemede VFW, Field Representative Leon Jones, Kevin Bucceroni, and Local 7 NY/NJ member Frank DeValerio. Volunteers not shown are Local 2 DE/NJ member Ray Avalone and Carmen Scarduzio of the Runnemede VFW.

Local 5 New Jersey

Habitat for Humanity

Last October members of Local 5 NJ helped build a house as part of a Habitat for Humanity project in Vineland, NJ. Under the direction of Local 5 Vice President Joe Pillo, the volunteers completed the foundation over the course of two evenings.

"Giving back to our community is part of our Union service," says Local 5 President Donald Engelhardt. "Our apprentices including James Smith, Brain Jacobs, and Justin Arroyo also donated their time to this project. That's what our Union is all about – serving our community when it is in need."

From left, Local 5 NJ members Tim Mahoney, Vice President Joe Pillo, James Smith, Field Representative Leon Jones, Brian Jacobs, Chris Castagnoli, Apprentice Coordinator Tom Feeney, Justin Arroyo and Allen Guilford.

 

Local 2 New York/Vermont

Building for America's Bravest

On July 6, 2013, ten volunteers from Local 2 NY/VT poured a concrete driveway and sidewalk for the home of retired Air Force Tech. Sgt. Joseph Wilkinson and his family as part of Building for America's Bravest program, which builds custom designed, specially adapted homes for  severely injured American service members.

As a member of the U.S. Air Force Security Forces, Wilkinson served in both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Due to his leg injuries and paralysis, he retired in 2009. In the years since, he has faced considerable medical and financial hurdles.

"Our heroes deserve better lives," Local 2 Secretary-Treasurer Pat Tirino said. "We are glad to be part of the program to help our injured soldiers in every way we can." 

To learn more about the Building for America's Bravest program, visit www.ourbravest.org.  

Front row from left, Air Force veteran Joseph Wilkinson's son Austin, his wife Lucretia, Local 2 VT/NY volunteers Blaik Nealon and Andy Rachel. Second row from left, Local 2 VT/NY volunteers Gary Gugliuzza, Vice Chairman Kevin Potter, Dennis Whelan, Jason Dunn, Steve Russo, Mike Rockwell, and Mark Colfer.

 

Fundraising for Breast and Ovarian Cancer Research

Local 2 NY/VT hosted its annual Pasquale J. Aquino Memorial Golf Tournament in July to benefit the Breast and Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Many local veterans were also invited to attend the charity event.

Front row, retired Air Force Tech. Sgt. Joseph Wilkinson (see the article above). Second row from left, Local 2 Secretary-Treasurer Pat Tirino, BAC Northeast Regional Director Al Catalano, Korean War veteran Frank Aquino, Vietnam War veterans Tom Murray and Charles Haynes – also a Local 2 member, Korean War veteran and member Joseph Dimura, World War II veteran and member Bernard Coluccio, and President Local 2 Bob Mantello.

 

Local 5 Pennsylvania

Volunteering Overseas

Retired 40-year Local 5 PA member Ronnie Emerich and three fellow volunteers took a 60-day missionary trip last summer to northeast India to volunteer at the Evangelical College of Theology in Churachandpur, Manipur State.

Emerich and a local bricklayer foreman and his family spent ten days building a 500-foot-long protection wall for the school. "The school supplied bricklaying tools to us, but I was surprised to see the poor quality of the tools compared to what we have back in the States," Emerich said. "In that hot and humid weather, we only have a few hours of electricity every day, and we were only able to work a couple of hours each day."

During their stay, the volunteers also taught the students about the basics of computers using their own laptops. "It was a challenging but definitely remarkable experience," Emerich added. "As a Union bricklayer, I would love nothing more than going there, modernizing their tools and educating them about our craft skills."

The BAC t-shirt was a gift from Brother Emerich to local bricklayer Rumick who said that he would not wear it while working because it was the first new shirt he had ever received.

 

Local 4 Wisconsin

Renovating Simmons Ballpark

Simmons Ballpark in Kenosha, Wisconsin now has a brand new main entrance – the result of the expert renovation services donated by members of Local 4 WI. From October to November, Local 4 volunteers spent 250 hours on mesh and mortar work and laying brick near the entrance to the bleachers.

Jeff Leckwee, Director of Wisconsin Administrative District Council, also participated in the project. "As a part of our community, we enjoy giving back," he said.

Simmons Ballpark is just one of many community projects to benefit from Local 4 members' contributions. Upon the completion of the project, the ballpark celebrated with an open house for the Kenosha public on November 23rd.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Kenosha News  Local 4 WI volunteer Bill Bonlender.	Photo Credit: Courtesy of Kenosha News  Volunteer WI DC bricklayers: Training Coordinator Mark Graf, left, and Director Jeff Leckwee lend a hand at the ballpark.

 

Local 1 Washington

Kitsap 9/11 Memorial

 

Benny Wright, front, and Jim Charest at the Kitsap 9/11 Memorial.

Last August, Local 1 officers Benny Wright and Jim Charest worked on the foundation and tile laying of the Kitsap 9/11 Memorial at Evergreen-Rotary Park in Bremerton, WA to ready the site for commemorative events held on September 11th.

 

"Twelve years after that tragic day in history, people in our community should be able to visit our own place of remembrance and read the story of that day," Brother Wright said.

 

As this Journal went to print, Local 1 WA became part of a newly established Local 2 WA/ID/MT, one of three Locals that make up the BAC Pacific Northwest ADC. Brothers Wright and Charest will serve as officers of the new Local 2 as well as ADC Field Representatives. Brother Wright has also been named to the ADC's Executive Committee.

 

Local 3 Massachusetts/Maine/New Hampshire/Rhode Island

Westfield 9/11 Memorial

 

"We Will Never Forget" are the words engraved on the 9/11 Memorial that stands on the grounds of Sons of Erin Club in Westfield, MA. The memorial is dedicated to Tara Shea Creamer, Brian Jospeh Murphy, and Daniel Patrick Trant, three Westfield natives who were victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, who are remembered every September 11th.  

This brick and granite monument was built with volunteer labor spearheaded by retired IMI New England Training Director and 27-year Local 3 member, Patrick Murphy, who also serves as vice president of the Club. Local 3 member Bill Hartwell, who passed away three years ago, also volunteered on this project. Building materials including bricks, mortar and granite slabs were generously donated by IMI and the Club.

"In my whole career as a Union bricklayer I have worked on a lot of projects, but this has been the greatest one that I have had the honor to work on," said Brother Murphy. "I thank my Union for giving me the skills and opportunity to create and build this beautiful monument in Westfield."