By Dana Williams
As the first woman to be elected supervisor in the Town of Hempstead-s 364-year history, Supervisor Kate Murray said she takes unique pride in helping to host the event. This ceremony celebrates the achievements of women in all areas of society, demonstrating to girls young and old that their dreams are truly not limited by gender, Murray said. Women have shattered the glass ceiling with groundbreaking accomplishments ... and their achievements are an inspiration to us all.
Murray also took a moment to give recognition to women throughout history who, she said, made important decisions that have helped to pave the way for the women of today. Most notably, Murray acknowledged the achievements of former United States first lady Abigail Adams, to provide a few reasons why town officials are able to honor women with the Pathfinder Award each year. I-ve always appreciated her brazen personality, her passionate concern for her country and her advocacy of women-s rights, Murray said about Adams. In 1776, Abigail Adams wrote a letter to the continental congress, urging them to Ôremember the ladies,- and today, we are doing just that.
One woman who town officials recognized for continuing Adams- legacy is Malverne Mayor Patricia McDonald, who was also the keynote speaker of the ceremony. McDonald told the audience that she faced many challenges as a woman, wife and mother after her husband Steven McDonald, a New York City police officer, was shot and paralyzed in the line of duty. For the past 21 years, McDonald said, she has tried her best to serve as an advocate for her husband. The longtime Malverne resident and former village trustee also currently works beside her husband to spread messages of peace and forgiveness.
McDonald, who was also presented with a citation and gift by Murray for her work in public service on behalf of the Town of Hempstead, also acknowledged the honorees in her speech by saying that they have marked a place in women-s history. Our award winners today would probably not call themselves historical figures, but I would, she said. This is because all history is local and when combined, it becomes our world-s heritage.
For almost two decades, Murray said, the town has been hosting the Pathfinder Awards to recognize the best and brightest of women who live or work in the Town of Hempstead. The ceremony featured a presentation of plaques to this year-s honorees for their achievements in arts and entertainment, business, education and health services, among other fields. This year-s recipients were from a number of areas including Rockville Centre, Freeport, Floral Park and North Valley Stream.
Myrna Alvelo, a registered nurse at South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside, received the Community Affairs Pathfinder Award for helping to establish a progressive student nurse program at the hospital. Under her leadership, an internship program was created for Hispanic students and graduate nurses from universities in Puerto Rico, which allows them to travel to the United States to practice hands-on patient care at South Nassau, among other opportunities.
Every time I help the nurses and patients, it gives me more energy and it just reminds me of the reasons why I chose to go into nursing, Alvelo said. These women that were honored are just a small fraction of the many women out here who are doing amazing things ... and I-m just happy to be one of them.
The award ceremony was also a part of the town-s celebration of Women-s History Month, a national celebration that was legally expanded from National Women-s History Week to the entire month of March in 1987 by the U.S. Congress. Each year, town officials said, they aim to highlight the importance of the initiatives made by women to improve their communities with the Pathfinder Awards.
Every single year, I am amazed by the accomplishments of all these women, Murray said. It doesn-t matter what the field is because all of these women serve the public with a really big heart each day ... and this ceremony is also really about honoring great citizens.
