Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you and it's truly a pleasure when you think about 73 years of independence and what this community has offered to the City of New York. 40,000 strong members from the Egyptian community are part of the fabric of this city.
And it took 110 mayors before your flag had the opportunity to be raised here in Bowling Green. These flag raisings are not only symbolic, but they're substantive. It's our way of saying that you are part of what makes our country and what makes our city great. And we cannot thank you enough, from the halls of medicine to what you do with small businesses, to how you allow your rich energy, food, and culture to be part of the fabric of this city.
Many years ago, when I had the opportunity to visit Egypt and see the splendors of Aswan and Cairo, and look at Luxor and other parts of the Egyptian experience, and the number of tourists that come here and visit your country. The beauty of this interaction is that America says, you don't have to abandon the love of your country as you embrace the adoption of this country and this city.
This is the greatest city on the globe, we like to believe, and it's because of our diversity and what is contributed here. And the Egyptian community, you contribute so much, and we say thank you. You believe in family, you believe in faith, you believe in business, and most importantly, as we look to the left of me, you believe in public safety. Your children are part of our law enforcement community that keeps this city safe. And we thank you for allowing them to be part of the extension of the Egyptian experience.
And to bishop, we thank you for joining us with your presence. The Coptic Church is a very significant faith-based institution here in the city. Continue to pray and lift our city up, so we will go through any uncertainty in dark days that we face as individuals.
And I thank you so much, and I'm looking forward to raising this flag and being the mayor that understood the importance of this community to allow this flag raising to be here at Bowling Green. Thank you so much.
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