A Word of Thanks Goes A Long Way
Twenty-six years ago, Congress designated the first week in May as Public Service Recognition Week, a time to honor the men and women who serve our nation as federal, state, county and local government employees. As the City Manager of Hollywood, I can tell you many of these dedicated individuals do indeed deserve our praise and recognition. For example, employees like Fire/Rescue department secretary, Donna D’Angelo who does an excellent job for the city then devotes much of her free time to serving as a guardian advocate for a mentally challenged young woman. Or, recreation coordinator, Richard Walker, who manages one of the city’s community centers by day and then serves as one of the head coaches for the championship South Broward Varsity Girls Basketball team. Another group deserving appreciation and credit are the City’s police and firefighters—granted, their job is public safety—but many routinely go beyond the bounds of their jobs like this year’s Officer of the Year, Joe Pendergrast. A few months ago, Pendergrast saw two swimmers caught in a rip current and jumped into the water to help get them both to shore safely. When he’s not patrolling the streets, he’s volunteering as a youth mentor at his church and providing temporary shelter for dogs that need homes.
Those who work in government are there to provide public service, because I believe they care. Some may have developed a thick skin over the years, but that is not a sign of not caring; it is a sign of not wanting to quit. Good government starts with good people, and good people need to be recognized, supported and appreciated for the positive work they perform. While government is far from perfect, I bet everyone knows someone in public service they could take a moment, during Public Service Recognition Week, to thank.
