A Message from NBWA's President on Hartford Distributors

Eight days after the horrific tragedy that left eight innocent people dead at Hartford Distributors, Inc., employees returned to work on Wednesday, August 11. They were wearing their uniforms, loading beer trucks, making sales calls and attempting to return to a semblance of normalcy. Yet it was far from a normal day. Employees began the day in the parking lot with a moment of “silence of remembrance” to honor their slain co-workers. Hartford Distributors President Ross Hollander delivered words of encouragement, and bagpipes played as employees walked into the warehouse. Distributor employees and owners from Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey were on hand and helped with deliveries to show support for their brothers and sisters. Employees at Hartford Distributors may be back at work, but it’s safe to say there will never be “just another day” at work.

While individual memorial services have been held for the victims, a public memorial service for all eight victims will be held Sunday, August 15, at 1 p.m. in the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford, Connecticut.

Many distributors have asked what they can do to help the families of the victims. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters and Hartford Distributors will be establishing a memorial fund. Donations may be sent to:

        Hartford Distributors Memorial Fund
        Siegel, O’Connor, O’Donnell and Beck
        150 Trumbull Street
        Hartford, CT 06103

On Tuesday, August 10, on the one week anniversary of the shooting, Representative John Larson (CT) led the U.S. House of Representatives in a moment of silence. He also read a tribute to the fallen men, in which he recognized them for their dedication to their jobs:

Eight men went to work that morning, some of them followed in the footsteps of their fathers and brothers before them, many of whom had served and worked at this family business for over 20 years. Neither they nor their families and friends could anticipate the senseless, unthinkable actions that occurred on that morning. But yet bad things happen to good people and through this, so many ordinary people are going through such extraordinary circumstances. What sustains everyone in Greater Hartford is that somehow, everyone in the community knew someone or was themselves a family member or friend of someone at HDI.

Beer distributors have always been rooted in community, and that has been evident during this very difficult time. A man who worked at Hartford Distributors for 30 years before retiring 10 years ago told a Connecticut television station that he is ready to go back to work if the company needs him. "These guys are all tough guys, and the girls in the office as well. They'll get by, it'll be tough, but they'll be able to survive this," said Allen Dicenza. He certainly exemplifies the distributor spirit.

Since the tragedy stunned the Connecticut community, beer distributors across the country have united in their incredible outpouring of support for our colleagues and friends at Hartford Distributors. We will continue to keep all of the victims, their families and Hartford Distributors in our thoughts and prayers.

Craig A. Purser