Friday, September 3, 2021
www.towntimes.com
Volume 27, Number 36
COMMENTARY
Monday is no ordinary holiday Celebrated on the first Monday of September, Labor Day has been a federal holiday in the United States since Congress made it so in 1894 during the second administration of President Grover Cleveland. So what is the day for?
A post on the Paulie’s Push Facebook page states: “We can’t thank fire departments along the route here in CT enough for joining Paulie out on the road, escorting and even walking alongside him. Throughout the day Tuesday Paulie was joined by Portland Fire, Middletown North & South Fire Districts, and the Durham Fire Department.” Paulie’s Push, Facebook
Man undertaking solemn 9/11 journey cheered in Durham Retired flight attendant Paul Veneto is pushing an airline beverage cart from Boston Logan International Airport, and through Connecticut, en route to Ground Zero in New York City to mark the 20year anniversary of 9/11.
Veneto says he knew the crew on United Airlines Flight 175. That aircraft was slammed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001.
Labor Day seems a non-controversial occasion to observe the dignity of labor and the contribution of the working men and women of the country, a phrase we're apt to toss off without thinking about it. Indeed, although it is Labor Day, it is an occasion upon which we generally do not work, unless we happen to be in emergency services or public safety. (Or work at a newspaper!) Labor? Most of us work, don't we? On Labor Day, Americans celebrate and honor hard work! It's not as simple as that.
Veneto states, “I am doing this because I want these crew members’ families to know how courageous they were that day. I want the public to understand that under those
Labor Day was a creation of the union movement and far from universally accepted. Indeed, there was a lot of strife in this country as workers in the countless factories, varied industries and all sorts of occupations struggled to make personal workplaces safer. Owners of many of those factories and the presidents and stockholders of cor-
See Solemn, A3
See Holiday, A5
On his website, PauliesPush.com,
Local golfer, 75, impresses at Meriden Open Doug Linder was one of the more remarkable stories at the 2021 Meriden Open, held at Hunter Golf Course. A 16-time club champ at Lyman Orchards between
1970-2000, the 75-year-old Linder put himself in contention against much younger golfers by essentially shooting his age for the tournament — a first-round 74 followed by Sunday’s 76.
On Sunday, Linder’s group included the eventual tournament champion, 31-yearold Mike Monopoli, and Luis Datil. Monopoli shot a 4-overpar 75 to hold off his playing partners by two strokes.
“There were a few holes where I’m hitting rescue clubs into the greens and they’re hitting an 8- and 9-iron,” said Linder, a Durham resident. “This guy Mike, he was all day. One time, I counted, he
was 100 yards in front of me off the tee, and I hit it really good. Seventh hole. He wound up birdying that hole.” See Golf, A4