NEW YORK (AP) – A pandemic seems like the worst time to work as a nurse in a Manhattan hospital, but Justin Davis was there last spring, desperately trying to help patients affected by the coronavirus while he was out worried about his own health.
The 43-year-old Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania resident was among those who came to New York City when it was an epicenter of the pandemic, a decision that required leaving his wife and three young children in a situation of uncertainty and risk .
“I came because I wanted to do something to make my family proud,” said the military veteran.
His family, along with a slew of New Yorkers, will have the opportunity to show their pride in a parade on Wednesday to honor key workers for their efforts to get New York City through the pandemic.
“This is a huge deal,” said his wife, Jennifer Davis. “It’s fantastic. We just had to come here and be there for him, support him and celebrate him.”
Davis will take part in the parade on a float sponsored by AMN Healthcare, the human resources company he works for that sent him to New York City and then other places around the country to be flooded in COVID last year Hospitals to work.
“I think it’s going to be really cool,” said Davis. “And hopefully it can only bring one degree.”
The parade is scheduled to begin in Battery Park and travel up Broadway in Lower Manhattan, the iconic route known as the Canyon of Heroes, where parades honor world leaders, celebrities and victorious sports teams. The last parade before the pandemic honored the US women’s soccer team after their 2019 World Cup victory.
City officials said the parade’s grand marshal would be Sandra Lindsay, a health care worker who was the first person in the country to be vaccinated against COVID.
Other workers honored include transportation workers, first responders, education and childcare providers, and utility workers.
“We have a lot to appreciate because our recovery is well on the way. We have a lot to celebrate and a lot of people to celebrate, ”said Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday.
“You deserve a walk through the Canyon of Heroes because it’s reserved for the greatest figures in history. Well, here are some of the people who made history during New York’s toughest hour, ”he said.
The high temperatures of the week cut the party plans a bit. Originally, a ceremony was planned in the town hall after the parade.
Instead, the mayor and his wife applaud the participants at the end of the parade route. Water is provided through the course and there are cooling stations for the participants at the beginning and end.
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