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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 195-08
May 25, 2008

MAYOR BLOOMBERG DISCUSSES MEMORIAL DAY AND ANNOUNCES NEW SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FOR NEW YORK CITY HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS AND SENIORS IN WEEKLY RADIO ADDRESS

The following is the text of Mayor Bloomberg’s weekly radio address as prepared for delivery on 1010 WINS News Radio for Sunday, May 25, 2008

"Good Morning.  This is Mayor Mike Bloomberg. 

"If you have a chance this Memorial Day weekend, head over to the Hudson River or to the Stapleton Pier on Staten Island.  You'll see some of the majestic ships that help protect our nation.  They're in town for Fleet Week, along with thousands of sailors, marines, and members of the Coast Guard - some of whom have just returned from the Persian Gulf.

"This is always a special time of the year for our city, a chance for us to salute these brave Americans and welcome them into town, but also to think about those who still remain in harm's way, defending our nation and everything it stands for.  And I know we all pray for their swift and safe return.  Every single one of them.

"It's never easy to come up with the right words to express our pride in the people who put their lives on the line to keep us safe.  That's why Memorial Day weekend is so important - because it gives us the chance to show what we feel with parades and tributes in every borough.

"Of course, if you do happen to run into any of our brave service members, don't hesitate to say 'thank you.'  A few simple words will go a long way - and will remind them that we appreciate their incredible sacrifices and that we will always be by their side.

"Memorial Day weekend also coincides with another important moment, and that's the unofficial start of summer.  I'm sure no one is more excited about that than New York City's children, who are counting down the days until summer vacations begin. 

"I remember how much I loved my summer break when I was a kid - but being out of the classroom doesn't mean you should stop learning and growing.  That's why our Parks Department offers a range of recreation activities in all five boroughs, why our Department of Youth and Community Development steps up its sports and extracurricular activities, and why our Department of Education runs summer school and other educational programs.

"This summer, we are also launching a new initiative that will give our brightest public school students some real-world work experience. Several years ago, we pioneered an innovative program that helps students set up and run 'virtual businesses' in their schools - so that they can get a feel for what it's like to be an entrepreneur.  Our new initiative will take this successful program one step further.  We've teamed up with the great non-profit, called PENCIL, to place the virtual business program's top 200 juniors and seniors in paid, six-week summer internships around the city. There, they'll learn new skills, while also developing confidence, responsibility, and hopefully a better idea of what they want to do with their careers.

"I've always believed that one of the best ways to learn is by being on the job - so I encourage all businesses to consider hiring a Pencil Fellow.  Just call 311 for more information.  That will help us develop the strong, skilled workforce we need for the future, and that will help keep this a city and nation worth fighting for.

"This is Mayor Mike Bloomberg.  Thanks for listening, and have a safe weekend."

 







MEDIA CONTACT:


Stu Loeser   (212) 788-2958




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