35th annual Lehigh Valley Workers’ Memorial Day ceremony

People and local dignitaries gather Sunday, April 26, 2026, during the 35th annual Lehigh Valley Workers' Memorial Day ceremony in the Bethlehem Rose Garden. The ceremony remembered one of the area's bloodiest workplace tragedies, when when two gunmen walked into the First National Bank of Bath and shot five people June 6, 1986, killing three immediately, and a fourth who died years later. Three names will be added this year to the Lehigh Valley Workers' Memorial list, which includes roughly 4,400 workplace facilities since before the Civil War. Added this year are April Lubenetski, 51, who died May 19, 2025, after suffering from occupational cancer as a result of her employment as an Emmaus and Lehigh Township volunteer firefighter; Steven Gill, 36, who died May 21, 2025, when he was hit by an excavator in Weisenberg Township; and James Akins, 57, who died July 29, 2025, after suffering a medical event while installing solar panels on a roof in Allen Township.(April Gamiz/The Morning Call)People and local dignitaries gather Sunday, April 26, 2026, during the 35th annual Lehigh Valley Workers’ Memorial Day ceremony in the Bethlehem Rose Garden. The ceremony remembered one of the area’s bloodiest workplace tragedies, when when two gunmen walked into the First National Bank of Bath and shot five people June 6, 1986, killing three immediately, and a fourth who died years later. Three names will be added this year to the Lehigh Valley Workers’ Memorial list, which includes roughly 4,400 workplace facilities since before the Civil War. Added this year are April Lubenetski, 51, who died May 19, 2025, after suffering from occupational cancer as a result of her employment as an Emmaus and Lehigh Township volunteer firefighter; Steven Gill, 36, who died May 21, 2025, when he was hit by an excavator in Weisenberg Township; and James Akins, 57, who died July 29, 2025, after suffering a medical event while installing solar panels on a roof in Allen Township.(April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
During the 35th annual Lehigh Valley Workers' Memorial Day ceremony Sunday, April 26, 2026, at the Bethlehem Rose Garden, Kim McNair of Nazareth places a carnation on the bronze Workers' Memorial sculpture in memory of her father, John Stefanio, an employee of FMSC of Bethlehem who died while repairing a pressurized pump that burst at Newstech Pa. The ceremony remembered one of the area's bloodiest workplace tragedies, when when two gunmen walked into the First National Bank of Bath and shot five people June 6, 1986, killing three immediately, and a fourth who died years later. Three names will be added this year to the Lehigh Valley Workers' Memorial list, which includes roughly 4,400 workplace facilities since before the Civil War. Added this year are April Lubenetski, 51, who died May 19, 2025, after suffering from occupational cancer as a result of her employment as an Emmaus and Lehigh Township volunteer firefighter; Steven Gill, 36, who died May 21, 2025, when he was hit by an excavator in Weisenberg Township; and James Akins, 57, who died July 29, 2025, after suffering a medical event while installing solar panels on a roof in Allen Township.(April Gamiz/The Morning Call)During the 35th annual Lehigh Valley Workers’ Memorial Day ceremony Sunday, April 26, 2026, at the Bethlehem Rose Garden, Kim McNair of Nazareth places a carnation on the bronze Workers’ Memorial sculpture in memory of her father, John Stefanio, an employee of FMSC of Bethlehem who died while repairing a pressurized pump that burst at Newstech Pa. The ceremony remembered one of the area’s bloodiest workplace tragedies, when when two gunmen walked into the First National Bank of Bath and shot five people June 6, 1986, killing three immediately, and a fourth who died years later. Three names will be added this year to the Lehigh Valley Workers’ Memorial list, which includes roughly 4,400 workplace facilities since before the Civil War. Added this year are April Lubenetski, 51, who died May 19, 2025, after suffering from occupational cancer as a result of her employment as an Emmaus and Lehigh Township volunteer firefighter; Steven Gill, 36, who died May 21, 2025, when he was hit by an excavator in Weisenberg Township; and James Akins, 57, who died July 29, 2025, after suffering a medical event while installing solar panels on a roof in Allen Township.(April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

During the 35th annual Lehigh Valley Workers' Memorial Day ceremony Sunday, April 26, 2026, at the Bethlehem Rose Garden, Ron Ennis of the Lehigh Valley Labor Council speaks about one of the area's bloodiest workplace tragedies, when when two gunmen walked into the First National Bank of Bath and shot five people June 6, 1986, killing three immediately, and a fourth who died years later. Three names will be added this year to the Lehigh Valley Workers' Memorial list, which includes roughly 4,400 workplace facilities since before the Civil War. Added this year are April Lubenetski, 51, who died May 19, 2025, after suffering from occupational cancer as a result of her employment as an Emmaus and Lehigh Township volunteer firefighter; Steven Gill, 36, who died May 21, 2025, when he was hit by an excavator in Weisenberg Township; and James Akins, 57, who died July 29, 2025, after suffering a medical event while installing solar panels on a roof in Allen Township. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)During the 35th annual Lehigh Valley Workers’ Memorial Day ceremony Sunday, April 26, 2026, at the Bethlehem Rose Garden, Ron Ennis of the Lehigh Valley Labor Council speaks about one of the area’s bloodiest workplace tragedies, when when two gunmen walked into the First National Bank of Bath and shot five people June 6, 1986, killing three immediately, and a fourth who died years later. Three names will be added this year to the Lehigh Valley Workers’ Memorial list, which includes roughly 4,400 workplace facilities since before the Civil War. Added this year are April Lubenetski, 51, who died May 19, 2025, after suffering from occupational cancer as a result of her employment as an Emmaus and Lehigh Township volunteer firefighter; Steven Gill, 36, who died May 21, 2025, when he was hit by an excavator in Weisenberg Township; and James Akins, 57, who died July 29, 2025, after suffering a medical event while installing solar panels on a roof in Allen Township. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
During the 35th annual Lehigh Valley Workers' Memorial Day ceremony Sunday, April 26, 2026, at the Bethlehem Rose Garden, Richard Smith of Pen Argyl places a carnation on the bronze Workers' Memorial sculpture in memory of his father, an employee of the Philadelphia Railroad who died when he was hit by a railroad car on the tracks of Bethlehem Steel in 1978. The ceremony remembered one of the area's bloodiest workplace tragedies, when when two gunmen walked into the First National Bank of Bath and shot five people June 6, 1986, killing three immediately, and a fourth who died years later. Three names will be added this year to the Lehigh Valley Workers' Memorial list, which includes roughly 4,400 workplace facilities since before the Civil War. Added this year are April Lubenetski, 51, who died May 19, 2025, after suffering from occupational cancer as a result of her employment as an Emmaus and Lehigh Township volunteer firefighter; Steven Gill, 36, who died May 21, 2025, when he was hit by an excavator in Weisenberg Township; and James Akins, 57, who died July 29, 2025, after suffering a medical event while installing solar panels on a roof in Allen Township. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)During the 35th annual Lehigh Valley Workers’ Memorial Day ceremony Sunday, April 26, 2026, at the Bethlehem Rose Garden, Richard Smith of Pen Argyl places a carnation on the bronze Workers’ Memorial sculpture in memory of his father, an employee of the Philadelphia Railroad who died when he was hit by a railroad car on the tracks of Bethlehem Steel in 1978. The ceremony remembered one of the area’s bloodiest workplace tragedies, when when two gunmen walked into the First National Bank of Bath and shot five people June 6, 1986, killing three immediately, and a fourth who died years later. Three names will be added this year to the Lehigh Valley Workers’ Memorial list, which includes roughly 4,400 workplace facilities since before the Civil War. Added this year are April Lubenetski, 51, who died May 19, 2025, after suffering from occupational cancer as a result of her employment as an Emmaus and Lehigh Township volunteer firefighter; Steven Gill, 36, who died May 21, 2025, when he was hit by an excavator in Weisenberg Township; and James Akins, 57, who died July 29, 2025, after suffering a medical event while installing solar panels on a roof in Allen Township. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
John Werkheiser welcomes the crowd Sunday, April 26, 2026, and speaks about all workers' right to a safe workplace during the 35th annual Lehigh Valley Workers' Memorial Day ceremony in the Bethlehem Rose Garden. The ceremony remembered one of the area's bloodiest workplace tragedies, when when two gunmen walked into the First National Bank of Bath and shot five people June 6, 1986, killing three immediately, and a fourth who died years later. Three names will be added this year to the Lehigh Valley Workers' Memorial list, which includes roughly 4,400 workplace facilities since before the Civil War. Added this year are April Lubenetski, 51, who died May 19, 2025, after suffering from occupational cancer as a result of her employment as an Emmaus and Lehigh Township volunteer firefighter; Steven Gill, 36, who died May 21, 2025, when he was hit by an excavator in Weisenberg Township; and James Akins, 57, who died July 29, 2025, after suffering a medical event while installing solar panels on a roof in Allen Township.(April Gamiz/The Morning Call)John Werkheiser welcomes the crowd Sunday, April 26, 2026, and speaks about all workers’ right to a safe workplace during the 35th annual Lehigh Valley Workers’ Memorial Day ceremony in the Bethlehem Rose Garden. The ceremony remembered one of the area’s bloodiest workplace tragedies, when when two gunmen walked into the First National Bank of Bath and shot five people June 6, 1986, killing three immediately, and a fourth who died years later. Three names will be added this year to the Lehigh Valley Workers’ Memorial list, which includes roughly 4,400 workplace facilities since before the Civil War. Added this year are April Lubenetski, 51, who died May 19, 2025, after suffering from occupational cancer as a result of her employment as an Emmaus and Lehigh Township volunteer firefighter; Steven Gill, 36, who died May 21, 2025, when he was hit by an excavator in Weisenberg Township; and James Akins, 57, who died July 29, 2025, after suffering a medical event while installing solar panels on a roof in Allen Township.(April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

John Weiss rings the bell as the names of workers who have died are read Sunday, April 26, 2026, during the 35th annual Lehigh Valley Workers' Memorial Day ceremony in the Bethlehem Rose Garden. The ceremony remembered one of the area's bloodiest workplace tragedies, when when two gunmen walked into the First National Bank of Bath and shot five people June 6, 1986, killing three immediately, and a fourth who died years later. Three names will be added this year to the Lehigh Valley Workers' Memorial list, which includes roughly 4,400 workplace facilities since before the Civil War. Added this year are April Lubenetski, 51, who died May 19, 2025, after suffering from occupational cancer as a result of her employment as an Emmaus and Lehigh Township volunteer firefighter; Steven Gill, 36, who died May 21, 2025, when he was hit by an excavator in Weisenberg Township; and James Akins, 57, who died July 29, 2025, after suffering a medical event while installing solar panels on a roof in Allen Township.(April Gamiz/The Morning Call)John Weiss rings the bell as the names of workers who have died are read Sunday, April 26, 2026, during the 35th annual Lehigh Valley Workers’ Memorial Day ceremony in the Bethlehem Rose Garden. The ceremony remembered one of the area’s bloodiest workplace tragedies, when when two gunmen walked into the First National Bank of Bath and shot five people June 6, 1986, killing three immediately, and a fourth who died years later. Three names will be added this year to the Lehigh Valley Workers’ Memorial list, which includes roughly 4,400 workplace facilities since before the Civil War. Added this year are April Lubenetski, 51, who died May 19, 2025, after suffering from occupational cancer as a result of her employment as an Emmaus and Lehigh Township volunteer firefighter; Steven Gill, 36, who died May 21, 2025, when he was hit by an excavator in Weisenberg Township; and James Akins, 57, who died July 29, 2025, after suffering a medical event while installing solar panels on a roof in Allen Township.(April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
People and local dignitaries gather Sunday, April 26, 2026, during the 35th annual Lehigh Valley Workers' Memorial Day ceremony in the Bethlehem Rose Garden. The ceremony remembered one of the area's bloodiest workplace tragedies, when when two gunmen walked into the First National Bank of Bath and shot five people June 6, 1986, killing three immediately, and a fourth who died years later. Three names will be added this year to the Lehigh Valley Workers' Memorial list, which includes roughly 4,400 workplace facilities since before the Civil War. Added this year are April Lubenetski, 51, who died May 19, 2025, after suffering from occupational cancer as a result of her employment as an Emmaus and Lehigh Township volunteer firefighter; Steven Gill, 36, who died May 21, 2025, when he was hit by an excavator in Weisenberg Township; and James Akins, 57, who died July 29, 2025, after suffering a medical event while installing solar panels on a roof in Allen Township.(April Gamiz/The Morning Call)People and local dignitaries gather Sunday, April 26, 2026, during the 35th annual Lehigh Valley Workers’ Memorial Day ceremony in the Bethlehem Rose Garden. The ceremony remembered one of the area’s bloodiest workplace tragedies, when when two gunmen walked into the First National Bank of Bath and shot five people June 6, 1986, killing three immediately, and a fourth who died years later. Three names will be added this year to the Lehigh Valley Workers’ Memorial list, which includes roughly 4,400 workplace facilities since before the Civil War. Added this year are April Lubenetski, 51, who died May 19, 2025, after suffering from occupational cancer as a result of her employment as an Emmaus and Lehigh Township volunteer firefighter; Steven Gill, 36, who died May 21, 2025, when he was hit by an excavator in Weisenberg Township; and James Akins, 57, who died July 29, 2025, after suffering a medical event while installing solar panels on a roof in Allen Township.(April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
During the 35th annual Lehigh Valley Workers' Memorial Day ceremony Sunday, April 26, 2026, at the Bethlehem Rose Garden, state Rep. Steve Samuelson, D-Northampton, places a carnation on the bronze Workers' Memorial sculpture in memory of workers who died. The ceremony remembered one of the area's bloodiest workplace tragedies, when when two gunmen walked into the First National Bank of Bath and shot five people June 6, 1986, killing three immediately, and a fourth who died years later. Three names will be added this year to the Lehigh Valley Workers' Memorial list, which includes roughly 4,400 workplace facilities since before the Civil War. Added this year are April Lubenetski, 51, who died May 19, 2025, after suffering from occupational cancer as a result of her employment as an Emmaus and Lehigh Township volunteer firefighter; Steven Gill, 36, who died May 21, 2025, when he was hit by an excavator in Weisenberg Township; and James Akins, 57, who died July 29, 2025, after suffering a medical event while installing solar panels on a roof in Allen Township.(April Gamiz/The Morning Call)During the 35th annual Lehigh Valley Workers’ Memorial Day ceremony Sunday, April 26, 2026, at the Bethlehem Rose Garden, state Rep. Steve Samuelson, D-Northampton, places a carnation on the bronze Workers’ Memorial sculpture in memory of workers who died. The ceremony remembered one of the area’s bloodiest workplace tragedies, when when two gunmen walked into the First National Bank of Bath and shot five people June 6, 1986, killing three immediately, and a fourth who died years later. Three names will be added this year to the Lehigh Valley Workers’ Memorial list, which includes roughly 4,400 workplace facilities since before the Civil War. Added this year are April Lubenetski, 51, who died May 19, 2025, after suffering from occupational cancer as a result of her employment as an Emmaus and Lehigh Township volunteer firefighter; Steven Gill, 36, who died May 21, 2025, when he was hit by an excavator in Weisenberg Township; and James Akins, 57, who died July 29, 2025, after suffering a medical event while installing solar panels on a roof in Allen Township.(April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

During the 35th annual Lehigh Valley Workers' Memorial Day ceremony Sunday, April 26, 2026, at the Bethlehem Rose Garden, Ron Ennis of the Lehigh Valley Labor Council speaks about one of the area's bloodiest workplace tragedies, when when two gunmen walked into the First National Bank of Bath and shot five people June 6, 1986, killing three immediately, and a fourth who died years later. Three names will be added this year to the Lehigh Valley Workers' Memorial list, which includes roughly 4,400 workplace facilities since before the Civil War. Added this year are April Lubenetski, 51, who died May 19, 2025, after suffering from occupational cancer as a result of her employment as an Emmaus and Lehigh Township volunteer firefighter; Steven Gill, 36, who died May 21, 2025, when he was hit by an excavator in Weisenberg Township; and James Akins, 57, who died July 29, 2025, after suffering a medical event while installing solar panels on a roof in Allen Township. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)During the 35th annual Lehigh Valley Workers’ Memorial Day ceremony Sunday, April 26, 2026, at the Bethlehem Rose Garden, Ron Ennis of the Lehigh Valley Labor Council speaks about one of the area’s bloodiest workplace tragedies, when when two gunmen walked into the First National Bank of Bath and shot five people June 6, 1986, killing three immediately, and a fourth who died years later. Three names will be added this year to the Lehigh Valley Workers’ Memorial list, which includes roughly 4,400 workplace facilities since before the Civil War. Added this year are April Lubenetski, 51, who died May 19, 2025, after suffering from occupational cancer as a result of her employment as an Emmaus and Lehigh Township volunteer firefighter; Steven Gill, 36, who died May 21, 2025, when he was hit by an excavator in Weisenberg Township; and James Akins, 57, who died July 29, 2025, after suffering a medical event while installing solar panels on a roof in Allen Township. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
Former Northampton County Executive Lamont G. McClure attends the 35th annual Lehigh Valley Workers' Memorial Day ceremony Sunday, April 26, 2026, in the Bethlehem Rose Garden. The ceremony remembered one of the area's bloodiest workplace tragedies, when when two gunmen walked into the First National Bank of Bath and shot five people June 6, 1986, killing three immediately, and a fourth who died years later. Three names will be added this year to the Lehigh Valley Workers' Memorial list, which includes roughly 4,400 workplace facilities since before the Civil War. Added this year are April Lubenetski, 51, who died May 19, 2025, after suffering from occupational cancer as a result of her employment as an Emmaus and Lehigh Township volunteer firefighter; Steven Gill, 36, who died May 21, 2025, when he was hit by an excavator in Weisenberg Township; and James Akins, 57, who died July 29, 2025, after suffering a medical event while installing solar panels on a roof in Allen Township.(April Gamiz/The Morning Call)Former Northampton County Executive Lamont G. McClure attends the 35th annual Lehigh Valley Workers’ Memorial Day ceremony Sunday, April 26, 2026, in the Bethlehem Rose Garden. The ceremony remembered one of the area’s bloodiest workplace tragedies, when when two gunmen walked into the First National Bank of Bath and shot five people June 6, 1986, killing three immediately, and a fourth who died years later. Three names will be added this year to the Lehigh Valley Workers’ Memorial list, which includes roughly 4,400 workplace facilities since before the Civil War. Added this year are April Lubenetski, 51, who died May 19, 2025, after suffering from occupational cancer as a result of her employment as an Emmaus and Lehigh Township volunteer firefighter; Steven Gill, 36, who died May 21, 2025, when he was hit by an excavator in Weisenberg Township; and James Akins, 57, who died July 29, 2025, after suffering a medical event while installing solar panels on a roof in Allen Township.(April Gamiz/The Morning Call)
Rob Hawke plays taps Sunday, April 26, 2026, during the 35th annual Lehigh Valley Workers' Memorial Day ceremony in the Bethlehem Rose Garden. The ceremony remembered one of the area's bloodiest workplace tragedies, when when two gunmen walked into the First National Bank of Bath and shot five people June 6, 1986, killing three immediately, and a fourth who died years later. Three names will be added this year to the Lehigh Valley Workers' Memorial list, which includes roughly 4,400 workplace facilities since before the Civil War. Added this year are April Lubenetski, 51, who died May 19, 2025, after suffering from occupational cancer as a result of her employment as an Emmaus and Lehigh Township volunteer firefighter; Steven Gill, 36, who died May 21, 2025, when he was hit by an excavator in Weisenberg Township; and James Akins, 57, who died July 29, 2025, after suffering a medical event while installing solar panels on a roof in Allen Township.(April Gamiz/The Morning Call)Rob Hawke plays taps Sunday, April 26, 2026, during the 35th annual Lehigh Valley Workers’ Memorial Day ceremony in the Bethlehem Rose Garden. The ceremony remembered one of the area’s bloodiest workplace tragedies, when when two gunmen walked into the First National Bank of Bath and shot five people June 6, 1986, killing three immediately, and a fourth who died years later. Three names will be added this year to the Lehigh Valley Workers’ Memorial list, which includes roughly 4,400 workplace facilities since before the Civil War. Added this year are April Lubenetski, 51, who died May 19, 2025, after suffering from occupational cancer as a result of her employment as an Emmaus and Lehigh Township volunteer firefighter; Steven Gill, 36, who died May 21, 2025, when he was hit by an excavator in Weisenberg Township; and James Akins, 57, who died July 29, 2025, after suffering a medical event while installing solar panels on a roof in Allen Township.(April Gamiz/The Morning Call)