Connie Fields, president of the Lawrence + Memorial Health Care Workers Union Local #5123, reacts as people honk their car horns Wednesday, May 19, 2021, as they drive by. She and L+M Hospital staff members Xavier Robinson, a patient transporter and secretary of Local #5123; registered nurse Jeanne Wehling, political action liaison with the L+M Nurses Union Local #5049, in background; and others hold a Safe Staff rally and remember nursing assistant Elva Graveline, who died of COVID-19 a year ago Wednesday. The event took place in New London on the sidewalk along Montauk Avenue, across the street from the hospital, and on the opposite corner near the hospital entrance. Later, staff and union members, along with Graveline's daughters, Felicia Graveline of North Stonington and Shelly Crews and her family of Groton, released 10 white balloons that said "Forever in our hearts." (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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Denise Mahoney, a Lawrence + Memorial Hospital Health Unit coordinator and board member of the Health Care Workers Union Local #5123, walks along the sidewalk along Montauk Avenue outside the hospital, placing balloons and a sign Wednesday, May 19, 2021, in remembrance of nursing assistant Elva Graveline, who died of COVID-19 a year ago Wednesday, in New London. Hospital staff and union members held a Safe Staff rally and also remembered Graveline with Graveline's daughters, Felicia Graveline of North Stonington and Shelly Crews and her family of Groton, and released 10 white balloons that said "Forever in our hearts." (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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From left, Connie Fields, president of the Lawrence + Memorial Health Care Workers Union Local #5123, on Wednesday, May 19, 2021, talks to Felicia Graveline of North Stonington and Shelly Crews and her husband, James, of Groton and their children, family members of nursing assistant Elva Graveline, who died of COVID-19 a year ago on Wednesday, in New London during a Lawrence + Memorial Hospital staff and union members Safe Staff rally. The event took place on the sidewalk along Montauk Avenue near the hospital entrance and across the street. Later, staff and union members, along with Graveline's family, released 10 white balloons that said "Forever in our hearts" in remembrance of Elva Graveline. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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