Bermuda's unsung heroes and heroines were celebrated for the first time yesterday on the anniversary of the birthday of Dr. Edgar Fitzgerald Gordon (Mazumbo).

Mazumbo Commemoration Committee organiser Mr. Dale Butler claimed Government had been "extremely negligent'' in failing to officially recognise men and women who have played significant roles in the shaping of Bermuda's history.

"This time we decided to do something about it,'' Mr. Butler said. By ignoring significant chapters in Bermuda's history, Bermudians are left with no sense of their roots which leads to present frustration and violence found among the youth.

"All over the world democracies have heroes,'' Mr. Butler said. "Bermuda, unfortunately, as a colony, still thinks as a colonial people. We have only one national statue and very little of our true history is taught in our schools.'' He added that a survey conducted among local school children would show how little they knew about their own history. "One only need talk to Bermudians as a whole to realise how little they know about those numerous men and women who have helped to shape Bermuda,'' he said.

The 18 heroes and two heroines, mostly craftsmen and mechanics, were selected for their courage and nobility and the majority of whom signed the 1946 Bermuda Workers Association Petition.

The petition, the first to address social, political and economic injustices in Bermuda, requested that the Secretary of State establish a Royal Commission.

Nevertheless, the petition was ultimately rejected.

Yesterday's list also included member of the colonial parliament and champion of the working class Dr. Eustace Cann and businessman Mr. George Brown.

Mr. Brown attempted to found the first Bermuda Workers Association in 1940. He later tried to start up a new political party but when this failed, he left the Island and was elected to Parliament in the West Indies.

Mr. Butler yesterday announced Bermuda's national heroes as: The late Dr.

Edgar Fitzgerald Gordon (Mazumbo), the late Mr. Gerald A. Brangman, the late Mr. M.S. Wycliffe, the late Mr. M.S. Stovell, the late Mr. Albert Crawford, the late Mr. William A. Davis, the late Mr. W.E.R. Joell, the late Mr. Hosay Smith, Mrs. Doris Cholmondeley (Webster), the late Mr. Dudley Seaton, the late Mr. Robert Austin Wilson, the late Miss Alethia DePina, the late Mr. Leon Bean, the late Mr. William C. Payneter, the late Mr. William R. Trott, the late Mr. Leonard Bascome, the late Mr. Harold Talbot, the late Mr. Leroy Smith, the late Mr. Allan Russell, the late Dr. Eustace A. Cann and the late Mr. W. George Brown.

The names will be officially read into the Bermuda Industrial Union Hall of Fame this evening during the 100 Black Men Forum at St. Paul A.M.E. Centennial Hall.

The list will then be forwarded to political parties, churches, schools and clubs.

Names of Bermuda's latter day heroes will be added to the list annually, Mr.

Butler confirmed.