Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Delivers Remarks at Flight 587 13th Annual Memorial Service

November 12, 2014

Video available at: https://youtu.be/5BU8yKiDCo8

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Good morning, everyone. It is an honor to join with you on this solemn day and in this ceremony. I want to respect everyone who is here by speaking both some English and some Spanish – and so I say, Buenos días. Es un honor estar aquí para recordar a aquellos que perdieron sus vidas en este trágico día hace trece años.

To all the family members, friends, community members, my fellow elected officials – on this day 13 years ago, a deep and lasting sorrow swept through our city. That sorrow in particular pierced the heart of our Dominican community. It seemed that everyone in the community knew someone or knew of someone on that ill-fated flight. And of course the grief didn’t end there – it reverberated fully 1,500 miles away in the Dominican Republic – and it radiated to the eight other nations represented here in this memorial.

Time has done little to dull the pain, but it has brought some measure of healing, some measure of hope, a shared sense of community, of families coming together in a commitment to carry on. While this memorial is a reminder to cherish the lives lost, it’s also a reminder of our collective strength in times of adversity. Let us continue to pray for all those who were lost – the passengers, the crew members, and the residents of this community that has been through so much over so many years – the residents lost in this strong and resilient community. And let’s pray for the victims’ families and their friends who carry on every day. Let’s pray for continued healing and strength. And let’s keep in our thoughts and prayers – as we should everyday – the brave men and women of the NYPD and the FDNY, who on this day 13 years ago responded with courage and skill as they have done so many times. That was such a painful moment. Our NYPD and FDNY were suffering so much at that time already, and yet they responded with great ability and great bravery in this moment – and everyone appreciates that response.

We’re now going to hear from family members the reading of the names of those who were lost.

[…]

Mayor: No olvidaremos nunca a aquellos que perdieron sus vidas hace trece años. Hoy los honramos y recordamos sus vidas llenas de amor y esperanza.

I want to thank everyone for gathering to honor those who were lost – so many of them lost well before their time, so many people lost in the prime of their lives. Their memories are sharp and clear today. You honor them with your presence and you honor the families and friends and all who feel that loss so deeply – you honor them and support them by being here – and we thank you for that. We’ll never forget those who lost their lives 13 years ago today. And let’s honor them – let us all honor them – by living lives filled with love and hope.

God bless you all. Thank you very much.