The Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) will honor the memories of 82 workers who died as a result of job-related injuries or illnesses in Washington in 2007 at a Worker Memorial Day ceremony today.
The 2:00 p.m. ceremony at L&I headquarters in Tumwater is Washington’s official Worker Memorial Day commemoration and is one of many held in communities across the nation. L&I has hosted a ceremony for 16 years recognizing and honoring fallen workers.
L&I Director Judy Schurke will emcee and introduce remarks by Cindy Zehnder, chief of staff for Gov. Chris Gregoire, Richard Walter of the Association of Washington Business, Rick Bender of the Washington State Labor Council, and Sherri Phillips of the Washington Self-Insurers Association.
Family members of workers who died in 2007 have been invited, and the observance is open to the public. The centerpiece of the ceremony is a reading of the names of the workers, accompanied by bell ringers from the Tumwater Fire Department.
Following the ceremony, the families will be invited to participate in ringing a bronze memorial bell sculpture on the grounds of the L&I building. L&I’s headquarters is at 7273 Linderson Way S.W. in Tumwater (exit 101 from I-5). For more information, visit lni.wa.gov.
