Transcript: Mayor Adams Delivers Remarks at FDNY's Medal Day Ceremony

June 4, 2025

Watch video here at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQD838cBW34

Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you so much and to our 70 honorees we have a special thank you for your actions and what you have carried out. I want to thank that first deputy mayor, Randy Mastro, who realized how imperative it is to be here to celebrate those who put their lives on the line every day. 

And just think about it for a moment. Think about the natural instincts that's associated with fright and flight. Anytime you see danger, you have a natural instinct to want to survive and run away from the danger that you are facing. If it's a fire, or if it's an emergency, or any form of action that can bring you physical harm. 

Every day you go in contrast to that natural ability to run away. Imagine running towards danger. Imagine going against the natural instinct instead of fleeing from danger, running towards the danger to sacrifice yourself to save the lives of your fellow New Yorkers. 

And one identified a Fire Department only associated with putting out fires. That is so far from [true]. EMS and FDNY, what you do every day, you were there when a ship hit the Brooklyn Bridge and we had to take off the lives of those who were injured and who we lost. You were there when there were bomb explosions. You were there when there were terrible car accidents. You were there when there are threats of possible gas leaks. You were there when individuals needed emergency calls for medical attention. 

The fullness and the full scope of what you do go far beyond putting out fires. Your ability to be trained, and always ready, and always prepared. It is amazing to see and display. As I think about January during the first month of 2022 when I took office and we experienced the horrific fire that took place in the Bronx, and you responded and crawled along the walls and the halls on your knees and feet to find innocent victims. 

To be able to do this job every day, no matter who's the mayor, no matter who's the governor, no matter what laws are put in place, you get up and you answer the calls of duty. And the 70 people that we are honoring today is only representative of what you do each and every day. 

Listen, words will never be able to replace the commitment and dedication of our first responders. As one of the individuals who wore that uniform as a police officer and always stood in amazement as you responded to some of the calls of services that you had to carry out every day, I can only say thank you. 

And my entire family that joined the Police Department, from my youngest brother to my cousins, we know what wearing these uniforms mean and what they represent. But more than that, we know what it means for the families. We know how much they carry out your toll with you every day. And we owe them a special thank you because they give you to us so that you can provide for this city. And we sit under the tree of freedom that many have watered with their bloods and commitment and dedication. 

And so I'm proud to be the mayor of the greatest city on the globe. The city remains great because men and women do what's right, like you, every day to ensure we're the safest big city in America. Thank you and congratulations to all the honorees.