New York City’s Elmhurst Hospital, in Queens, has been “ground zero” in the battle against COVID-19. Harvard Business Review calls the 545-bed hospital “the epicenter within the epicenter.” It serves a largely working-class immigrant neighborhood that has been hit hard by the coronavirus.
During the shift change at Elmhurst on Thursday, April 2nd, several NYC firefighter units parked in front of the hospital, with the big trucks’ sirens and horns announcing that something big was happening. I’m sure many of the medical personnel that were coming from or going to the hospital thought, “Now what?” Then they realized they were the “what.”
The firefighters were honoring their heroes. Tears flowed all around as this small microcosm of our latest heroes interfaced with an appreciative group of people who know something about heroism.
Because of television, millions of people who’ve never set foot in NYC have some sense of familiarity with the “Big Apple.” As a kid, I learned about the city through a bus driver named “Ralph” and a sewer worker named “Ed” in the Honeymooners. I learned to sing, “Car 54, where are you?”
There’s a holdup in the Bronx!
Brooklyn’s broken out in fights!
There’s a traffic jam in Harlem that’s backed up to Jackson Heights!
There’s a scout troop short a child!
Krushchev‘s due at Idlewild!
Car 54, where are you?
We’ve learned to laugh and cry with the people of the nation’s largest city.
ted.today 