Unions Put Wounded Veterans at Head of Labor Day Parade - By STEVEN GREENHOUSE, NYTimes.com
In inviting the Wounded Warrior Project to lead the parade, labor leaders are seeking to underline the importance of unions and employers helping to find jobs for wounded veterans.
“We agree with the group’s motto, ‘The greatest casualty is being forgotten,’ ” Mr. La Barbera said. He praised an effort, called Helmets to Hardhats, in which several building trades unions have sought to place veterans leaving the armed forces in good construction jobs.
Jeremy Chwat, executive vice president for public awareness of the Wounded Warrior Project, said his group expected that 20 wounded veterans would lead the parade. “Unions,” he said, “are part of the fabric of this city, and for them to acknowledge the sacrifices of wounded warriors, it’s tremendously gratifying and a true honor.”