Transcript: Mayor Adams Hosts Eastern European Cultural Heritage Reception

September 17, 2024

Watch the video here at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n758blnzGdk

Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you, thank you, thank you so much. And I don't know if you really heard Commissioner Mermelstein's comments of how much an Eastern European Ukrainian refugee, not three generations later, not four generations later, but you have a man like many of us and many of you that are here. You came to this country for one goal, to pursue the American dream. And you have actively pursued that dream from Lithuania, Georgia, Ukraine. Your commitment and love of this country in general, but specifically the City of New York, is the contribution that makes it what it is. 

And to the ambassadors and consul generals who are here as we celebrate UNGA, which is also known as UN Week, not only does the United Nations sit on the East River, but in each one of our communities we have our own United Nations. If it's in the beautiful Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, if it's in Greenpoint where we have the large Polish community that still have their presence, if it's in Flushing where we have our Chinese community, or if it's in parts of Brooklyn where you have the Ukrainian community that is ever present. The dream is alive because this country tells you, don't abandon your motherland as you embrace your adopted land. 

You are not American-Georgians. You are not Americans-Ukrainians. You are told to put your country first as you become part of the common denominator of the American experience. You are Ukrainian-Americans. So you hold on to your Ukrainian food, culture, dance, the stick-to-it-ness that you have of willing to fight and be a part of the American dream. There's no other country on the globe where dream is attached to its name, but there is a country called America that has the American dream. And we are great because you are great and you are part of that dream. 

And everyone, for the most part, everyone has come from somewhere. So no one can ever tell you to go back to where you came from. You can tell them to go back to where they came from because we all came from somewhere outside of the indigenous Indians who occupied this land. And now we're here. What is our goal? Our goal is to solve global problems with the diversity of our various communities that come together. And that's why we invite you here. You grace us by being here at Gracie Mansion. You grace us when we raise your flag at Bowling Green. You grace us when you join city services like Commissioner Merminstein and Anastasia. You grace us when you run for office like Alec Brook-Krasny and what he has continued to do. You grace us by participating to make this city and country the greatest place to be. 

So I'm proud to be the mayor of one of the most diverse cities on the globe and that has one of the largest Eastern European communities right here in the city of New York. We have a lot to do, but we can do it together and we can accomplish our task together. So thank you for coming out today and lifting up and celebrating the Eastern European community. I love you. I appreciate you. And we're also joined by Assemblyman Michael Novakhov, who's also here as well. I'm almost sure we have others. Did I miss any of our electors? And Assemblyman, we can never forget the great Assemblyman David Weprin. So the Assemblyman David Weprin and all of us, we want to honor three honorees that's here today from your community. Anastasia is going to come up and bring up our honorees. Thank you. I love you so much.

Anastasia Yaskova, Brooklyn Borough Director, Community Affairs Unit: Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor. So our first honoree is Bishop Mesrop, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church in America.

Bishop Primate Mesrop Parsamyan, Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America: Thank you, Mayor Adams, for this incredible honor. What a special evening this is as we gather to celebrate Eastern European culture, heritage, rich tapestry that weaves together resilience, faith, and a deep love for tradition. I feel deeply humbled right now, not just by this award, but by the opportunity to share in this heritage that shines so brightly in our world. And it has done so for generations. This honor truly belongs to those who came before us, the courageous souls who paved the way through work, faith, and unity, and so we could rise higher, defy obstacles, and embrace opportunity and hope. 

Tonight, my friends, I especially think of the Armenian Genocide survivors who found refuge here in America a century ago. They carried with them the wounds of great tragedy, but also an unbreakable spirit in the face of unimaginable loss. They rebuilt their lives, planted new roots, and contributed to the flourishing of this nation. Indeed, New York has many claims to greatness, but above all, it's the people who make it great. All the refugees, all the people who live in this great city, people who came from different lands to build shared future. 

Friends, our Eastern European ancestors were part of the wave of immigrants who shaped this city into a living mosaic of cultures, languages, and faiths. And all working together to create something beautiful. In that spirit, I accept this award as a promise to continue contributing to that beautiful work. To continue to preserve, to remember, to honor, but also to build, to nurture, and to move forward. Thank you, Mayor Adams, for this beautiful opportunity. God bless you, God bless this great city, New York, that we call home. Thank you.

Yaskova: Our next honoree is Ms. Yelena Makhnin, executive director of Brighton Beach Avenue Business Improvement District, and very much activist of Community Board 13.

Yelena Makhnin, Executive Director, Brighton Beach Business Improvement District: Good evening, everybody. I don't have a speech, I'll be very brief. Thank you very much, Mayor Adams. Thank you very much, Anastasia, commissioners. I am very lucky to be a resident of the greatest city on the world, of New York City. Yes, I am Jewish-Ukrainian-American, okay? I am part of this city. I am part of this culture. And I appreciate each and every moment and each and every opportunity this city gives to us, immigrants, to pursue our American dream. Thank you.

Yaskova: And last but not least, Mr. Richard Zawisny, president of the General Pulaski Memorial Parade Committee.

Richard Zawisny, President, General Casimir Pulaski Memorial Parade: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I, too, came to fulfill this American dream here with my parents in 1962. Came from Poland to escape communism. We came to the United States. We had a wonderful business called White Eagle Market in South Brooklyn, which was very much Polish community. But one thing I will never forget, my dad always told me, don't ever forget where you came from, always give back to your nation. And that's why I'm a proud Polish-American, now the president of the General Casimir Pulaski Memorial Parade Organization. And for the 87th time this year, we will have Fifth Avenue, where we will display the largest manifestation of Polish culture and pride in the United States of America. That we are grateful for. 

Mayor Adams, thank you for what you do. I remember you coming out into South Brooklyn by Prospect Hall, and you always come to our events, so thank you. And a special thank you to the people that come out to the parade. Remember, General Casimir Pulaski came here to this country to fight for freedom. Freedom is not cheap. At the tender age of 32, he gave up his life, and he fought for us, for the freedom that we are enjoying here today. 

Thank you very much, everyone. Have a good evening, and please come out first Sunday in October to the Pulaski Day Parade, Fifth Avenue, from 40th Street to 54th Street. And last year we had for the first time the Polish president, Andrzej Duda. And speaking of our other honorees for the Ukrainian, remember the Polish people opened up their boundaries. And brought in over one million Ukrainians to Poland right now. And we are helping them out, so we are working together for freedom. Thank you.

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