If someone were to ask anybody who knew Garland Warren what was the most admirable quality he exhibited, the answer would probably be his ability to express his love for people – all people.  Garland was as generous with his love for his extended family of union brothers and sisters as he was with his time that he spent working on their behalf.
     When you met Garland for the first time you couldn’t help but feel a little déjà vu in the experience.  You almost immediately felt as though you had been friends for a while, good friends.  Even though you may have never seen him before, you just knew you must have. 
     Never one to turn a deaf ear towards anybody with a problem, whether it be job related, a personal problem, a spiritual problem, or maybe just a need to have someone listen caringly, Garland was there for them.  His ability to acknowledge you while he was listening to what you said would often be punctuated with a hearty “Thank You!” which translated to “Yes!  You are right on target and I appreciate your thoughts.”
     Garland’s smile was contagious, and when he walked into a room he usually had a kind word for everyone there.  His charisma was almost tangible to say the least, and when you finished talking to Garland you often found yourself thinking about things in a different light.  Often, you would walk away with a little less of a burden on your shoulders and you might even be wondering why you hadn’t felt like that more often.  Then eventually you would figure it out as Garland’s gift - his love for people.
     When Garland was hospitalized this last time preceding his death, a large number of people went to see him. Though you could tell he was in a physical fight to stay here on Earth, you could still see and feel the warmth of his smile and the love and compassion in his eyes.  He would introduce you to the hospital staff in his trademark gentlemanly way by verbally painting a glorious picture of your character all the while enlightening the staff to the fact that you were indeed a great friend and a wonderful human being.
     Garland’s eyes were indeed the proverbial windows to his soul and you knew you were looking at someone who remembered where he came from and had a good vision of where he was going.  His old-fashioned manners and charm added nicely to the mutual experience of talking, debating or just reminiscing about the old days.
     Garland served two terms in the Army in Viet Nam before making Alaska his home in 1971.  He worked for Safeway, the Anchorage School District and for the last 17 years, he worked as a distinguished Business Representative for Public Employees Local 71, of the Laborers International Union of North America.
     The lives that were touched by this great man are innumerable.  The jobs and livelihoods he saved, along with the founding of the Alaska Chapter of the A. Philip Randolph Institute are just a part of the union legacy he leaves behind.     
     Whether it was his union work, his church activities, or his non-stop advocacy on people issues, Garland worked on each as if were the most important thing he would ever be doing, and people came to count on him when he offered to do something because they knew he always lived up to his promises. 
     His embodiment of the trade unionist spirit was steeped in sincerity and will be remembered, and missed, for many years to come.  Those of us who worked closely with Garland here at Local 71 will always remember him affectionately.  He and the family members he leaves behind are in our prayers. 

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