Last week this editorial blasted the inconsideration and disrespect for human life we see so many examples of every day that this pandemic goes on. People refusing to heed regulatory social distancing, protesting to reopen business where it is impossible to keep at safe distances, bringing unprotected children into contact with other revelers on the streets on days when the sun is shining.
On and on we could go but amazingly, this week we’re doing a complete 180 because of something that took place in Howard Beach on Saturday night.
We have all seen the commercials and the news reports repeated countless times on TV and through social media channels, of people gathering at 7 PM every night. People outside their homes, on their balconies and at their windows, in their cars, all applauding, cheering and banging pots as a means to acknowledge and thank healthcare workers and first responders for their Herculean efforts to combat this virus.
But all that applause, all that cheering was but a distant echo here in Howard Beach on Saturday night when more than 150 tow trucks, followed by a liege of cars and SUV’s caravanned through the neighborhood blasting their horns and flashing their lights to support Howard Beach’s John “Johnny Boy” DiLorenzo Jr. in his battle with Covid-19.
John has been fighting on his own front line in a hospital room for over a month. On a ventilator and struggling, arguably against the most formidable enemy any of us could ever face. But he’s not doing it alone. He’s doing it with the support of a family, friends and a community, who on Saturday night displayed what it is to be human beings who do what they’re supposed to do when crisis strikes. They turn out, they support, they love, they pray and they help.
The caravan traveled from Howard Beach to Manhasset to line up outside John’s hospital room at North Shore University Hospital where those in the line looked up to see the flickering of the light from inside his room — an acknowledgement by John’s nurses that he knew everything that was going on down below him.
Although lately we have heard many politicians and celebrities say that “We are in this together”, that phrase was much more than just a cliché in Howard Beach on Saturday night. It was a demonstration of love, caring and support that has, at least for me, reestablished that which I feared had all but been lost — caring for other people, putting them before yourself and putting yourself out there just to show you care.
If you’re wondering why the outpouring for John is so great, you must be one of the people who don’t know him. And for those who don’t, just know that he has given you a gift by inspiring one of the most profound and uplifting demonstrations of human care and kindness you will ever witness. John may be laying in a hospital bed right now, but his determination to fight this disease, his love of life and his good nature has done what sometimes seems hopelessly impossible — bringing people together, especially in the worst of times.
People like Justine Cammarata that drive to his family home every night to blast his favorite song, Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” or friends like Gina FerroneMartire who organized donations to provide food and much needed supplies for the healthcare workers at the hospital where John is recovering. People in a prayer network who refuse to let their intentions fall silent.
John has proven for us that, in life, if you allow yourself to be good, you will be good, you will do good and you’ll lead the way for others to do good.
What a marvelous consequence of this disease it would be if we could be pushed into a place where we realize exactly what is important. Loyalty, compassion, sharing and being there for each other.
