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The NYPD Emerald Society held the November 3, 2008 meeting at St. Andrew R. C. Church in downtown Manhattan. The church hall was filled with a large turnout of active and retired members. In addition some Emerald Society VIP's were also in attendance. Ann O'Connor and her clan, including her daughters Maureen Paradine and Ann Marie Golden, along with sons Paddy and Jimmy and other family members were our special guests. President Timothy Bergin started the meeting with the presentation of the NYPD Emerald Society's Patrolman Patrick J. O'Connor Medal of Valor. Mrs. O'Connor with her sons and daughters at her side, stood near the podium, as 1st Vice President Sean Patterson recounted the Medal's long history. He told of how Patrolman O'Connor of the Emergency Service Unit was killed in a vehicle accident back in 1971. His police vehicle was struck by an oil truck, tragically ending the life of the loving father of four very young children. Also severely injured was Patrolman Maurice Fitzgerald, he barely survived the terrible collision on a rain soaked Brooklyn highway. At the time of his death, O'Connor was a member of the Emerald Board of Officers, as well as in the Pipe Band's Color Guard. As a lasting tribute to Patrick O'Connor, the Emerald Society's Medal of Valor was renamed in his honor. VP Patterson then went on to read a narrative from the Medal Day program. The story detailed the heroic act performed by this year's Medal winner, Detective Thomas Stevens of the Harbor Unit. Stevens a member of the Scuba Team, made a daring rescue of a trapped victim in a capsized boat (further details are below). A standing ovation, which began earlier with the introduction of Mrs. O'Connor, continued as she handed the Medal along with an engraved Emerald Society Plaque to the detective. Stevens thanked her and shook hands with President Bergin and the O'Connor family. As what is now customary for many of our NYPD heroes, Stevens offered a "simple thank you" to all. His humility and bravery were appreciated by the entire assembly. He then enjoyed a photo session with the three generations of O'Connors. As the meeting continued Joe O'Brien representing The Moonshiners Band handed President Bergin a donation. It was a check from proceeds the band raised, at a performance remembering the anniversary of 9-11 this past September. The Moonshiners have become great friends of the Emeralds and Bergin thanked O'Brien for all their support and their generosity. Next on the agenda were a number of upcoming events. Bergin reminded our delegates that the Delegates Dinner will be on Friday, November 21st, and they must RSVP their Borough VPs. Our Pipe Band and The Moonshiners Band will be joining us that night, at the Hudson Council, Knights of Columbus Hall on Queens Boulevard. Bergin then introduced Kevin Quinn, a Disc Jockey from WFUV-90.7 FM. Quinn will be one of the Fordham University's radio station staff members being honored at the Delegates Dinner. Bergin promises the evening will be memorable for all who come. Board Officer Rosie Kelly advised on next month's Christmas Raffle. She urged everyone to participate and support this worthy endeavor. The money raised will go to an Emerald member in need. In recent years this has benefited some truly deserving families, as the old saying goes "there but for the grace of God go I". College Chairman Tom Cawley and High School Chairman Tom Glynn both spoke on their respective scholarship programs, information can be found in our Web Site. Chairman Tom Sullivan announced the 44th Annual Winter Weekend at the Friar Tuck Resort, Catskill NY. Brochures and Web Site information will soon be available on the Presidents Day Holiday weekend trip. The dates are February 12-16, 2009. The rates remain the same as they were for 2008 winter and summer trips. As the meeting concluded President Bergin thanked everyone for attending and he urged everyone to vote at the next day's Presidential election. He also expressed his appreciation to all the O'Connors and to Detective Tom Stevens for making the night so special. Lastly everyone was wished a Happy Thanksgiving! Excerpts from the 2008 Medal Day Award Ceremony Program. On October 20, 2007, just before midnight, Detectives Francis Vitale, Thomas Stevens, George Sichler, and Police Officer John Purcell, all assigned to Harbor Unit/SCUBA Team, were dispatched to a capsized fishing boat in Ambrose Channel. In dark, choppy waters, the boat had collided with a tug boat's tow line and overturned. A nearby charter boat rescued the captain, but his three passengers remained missing. Rescue divers Det. Sichler and PO Purcell deployed from an Air Sea Rescue helicopter, dropping ten feet to the water. The officers bravely swam under the capsized vessel in search of survivors, despite knowing it could sink with them beneath it. Moving through the wreckage, they were able to recover one victim and hoist him and themselves into the helicopter before they exhausted their air supplies. NYPD Harbor boats arrived, and recue divers Dets. Vitale and Stevens entered the water. Plunging under the battered boat, feeling their way through obstructions, they located the cabin and found the body of a second deceased victim. While the detectives were removing the decedent, the third missing passenger, who had survived in a small air pocket, reached down through the darkness and grabbed hold of Det. Vitale's shoulder. Dets. Vitale and Stevens guided the exhausted victim back to the surface, administered first aid, completed an air lift from the police boat to the helicopter and transported the hypothermic victim to the nearest trauma center, where he made a full recovery.
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