The American Spectator

Reader Mail

p> ITALIAN MAGIC BR>Re: Lawrence Henry's The Elgin Pelican Turns 90 : p>Mr. Henry once more works his magic -- transporting me back to conversations with my late father -- an employee of the New York City Transit Authority. p>After World War II, ethnic and racial lines in municipal services began to blend and disappear, but to my dad, the Elgin Pelican was -- and still is -- known to me as an "Italian Helicopter," named somewhat affectionately after the country of origin of the then majority of employees of the NYC Sanitation Department. As the Germans and Irish manned the police, fire, and transit, the Italian and later Greek immigrants moved up from day labor to the security of the NYCSD. p>Ethnic barriers have all but disappeared, my kids and now my grandkids look at me askingly as I point out to them the stately Elgin Pelican, a.k.a. the "Italian Helicopter." p>Thank you, Lawrence Henry. BR>-- Mike Horn BR>Tracy, California p> ODYSSEY OF THE MIND

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