Office Of The Mayor Of New York City: Transcript: Mayor De Blasio Delivers Remarks At The Flight 587 20th Annual Memorial Service

Press release from Office of the Mayor of New York City:

November 12, 2021

Mayor Bill de Blasio:  Thank you, Father.  

[Mayor de Blasio speaks in Spanish] 

Everybody, thank you. Thank you for gathering. Thank you for showing your love, your support for each other, for everyone who is feeling the pain at this moment after 20 years. And it doesn't matter the wind, the rain you're here to show that love. and I honor you for that. Thank you, Father, for being with us. Thank you, Belkis, for all you have done to support the families. Everyone who has been a part of putting on this event each year, everyone from City Hall, thank you. It's been a labor of love to remember and to support people we have come to know so deeply and with such appreciation. Thank you to our colleagues from the FDNY and the NYPD for always being with us each year to honor these families. 

20 years ago, it's extraordinary to imagine – it's hard to believe 20 years have passed but we all can feel, right here, what it felt like those days just after 9/11, feeling that pain already. And then another tragedy, a tragedy felt from the Dominican Republic all the way here to Belle Harbor. 265 good souls lost. And that pain does not go away, but we still, even amidst the pain, appreciate all the people who came in that moment to try to help – the first responders, the people from the neighborhood who tried to help from that moment on. And then for 20 years since, the way you have all helped each other, you've been there for each other. You've created a community and out of the pain, you found something so good and noble.  

Thank you for always being there for each other. Thank you for always remembering. And we will always stand by you. God bless you all.  

[Mayor de Blasio speaks in Spanish] 

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This press release was produced by Office of the Mayor of New York City. The views expressed here are the author’s own.