Transcript: Mayor Adams Delivers Remarks at NYPD's Annual Police Memorial Day Ceremony

May 1, 2024

Police Commissioner Edward Caban: Good morning, everyone and thank you all for being here. Today we are in the Hall of Heroes to renew 43 promises, to remember 43 lives spent helping others and to honor 43 families who have given everything in service to our city, from police officer to chief, uniformed and civilian, the names displayed here represent the best of us and they represent something else too: the very real risk our officers face every time they go to work. Cops understand this risk, they accept it when they swear their oath to serve, they know what it takes, and what it might mean to put the safety of others above their own. And they also know that one day their service might be immortalized on these walls, no law enforcement family takes this lightly.  
 

But for those who watch their loved ones leave home every day without ever really knowing, it's an unspeakable burden to bear and for you today is another reminder of everything you have lost but it's also a reminder that you will forever be a part of our family. That the NYPD will be here for you always.  
 

We know that no plaque no memorial no ceremony can ever fill the void left by those remarkable men and women but that's not why we're here. We're here because our family never forgets, and we will make sure that every person who walks through these halls know exactly what these heroes meant to our city, to the families here today.  
 

New York City owes you a debt that could never be repaid, but every day the men and women of this department will uphold the tremendous legacy of your loved ones. We will continue the work that they started and they will live on through each of us. Nothing we do as a police family is more important than this. This is an oath that we are proud to fulfill and a promise we are honored to keep. Thank you again for being with us today and thank you to every officer and civilian in this department who make us all proud to be part of the NYPD. God bless you, God bless the heroes in this hall, and God bless the New York City Police Department. Thank you.  
 

Lt. Jack Conway, NYPD Ceremonial Unit Commanding Officer: Thank you Commissioner Caban. It's now my pleasure to introduce the mayor of the city of New York the Honorable Eric Adams  
 

Mayor Eric Adams: As I heard officer Fernandez sing our national anthem, [I] could not help but to reflect sometimes you hear something so often you fail to recognize the actual words and how much it means for us to be here in this location honoring our fallen heroes.  
 

When you look at the line that the rockets red glare of bombs burst in the air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Our flag continues to be here because men and women of the law enforcement community [are] not only here in the great NYPD but across the country. They water the tree of freedom with their blood, to ensure that we can sit under and prevent the hot rays of crime from permeating our society.  
 

And what they have done is not only who they are individually but the families they come from, as the loved ones and family members are here, we want to say thank you. And our work is so important now more than ever.  
 

I read a poll the other day that said only 18 percent of 18 to 34 year olds love this country. We watched these last few days as the American flag was removed and other flags were put in its place. Not in our America we won't desecrate the lives of the men and women who wear bulletproof vests and stand on street corners to protect us from those who want to disrupt our way of life.  
 

We have to move from the place to be ashamed of being on and a member of the greatest country on the globe and living in the greatest city on the globe and it's because of the role of the men and women of the NYPD [that] have performed throughout the years. Today as we honor our fallen heroes, let’s recommit our lives to how we not only lift them up but how we lift up our future generations who know the roles that they have played.  
 

I'm not only proud to be the mayor of the City of New York but I was proud to wear the uniform of the New York City Police Department. The role continues. It doesn't matter if it's a blue uniform or blue suit. I would stand in the gap to protect the people of the City of New York, and I thank you for your family members that you have given to us that allow them to do their jobs. I know they're just sons and daughters, and to us they're members of the department, but you lost a loved one and the pain never dissipates. It only is a reminder how we must recommit ourselves to this great city to this great country. God bless America, God bless New York City, God bless the NYPD.  
 

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