Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Delivers Remarks at the Opening Ceremony for The 2016 America’s Parade

November 11, 2016

Mayor Bill de Blasio: …as a living, powerful part of what we experienced, here, in this city. Let’s give them all a round of applause to thank them for that.

[Applause]

And what they kept alive is the largest veterans parade in the nation – 25,000 participants from every conflict, going back to World War II.

And I want to take this moment to say that I want to honor all the veterans who are here, but I note in the crowd, we have some World War II veterans with us. That was a generation that my parents served it. Let’s give a special round of applause to our World War II vets.

[Applause]

This is a city of veterans – over 200,000 men and women who have served our nation live in New York City. This is a city that honors veterans. The war effort over generations played here in New York City – we played a crucial role in ensuring that our nation could protect itself, a crucial role in providing the men and women who did such extraordinary things for us and nations all over the world.

We have to honor them in every way, not just on Veteran’s Day but every day of the year.

It’s an honor to be at this parade, and it’s an honor to be here with people who have devoted themselves to protecting and serving our veterans when they come home.

I want to start by thanking our commissioner of our new Department of Veteran Services, retired Brigadier General Loree Sutton. Let’s give her a round of applause.

[Applause]

Two men who lead agencies that do immeasurable good for this city, protect us all – our Police Commissioner, Jimmy O’Neill –

[Applause]

– And our Fire Commissioner, Dan Nigro.

[Applause]

I want to thank the elected officials who are with us – Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and Borough President Gale Brewer.

[Applause]

I want to thank all of those who are being honored today and commend them all – the grand marshals, I want to thank all the speakers today. This is a point of privilege. Particularly want to thank and honor one of the grand marshals, who serves on my security detail, and helps keep this city safe, Detective Nelson Vergara. Congratulations.

[Applause]

And most important, today, I want honor and support and give me love to all the Gold Star family members who are here today. Let’s thank them.

[Applause]

In a moment, we will lay wreaths at the base of the Eternal Light Flagstaff. This is a place where members of our armed forces gathered after the armistice at the end of World War II. That’s how deep this tradition is, and each successive generation has kept the tradition and added heroes to it.

This is where we also note – on the 15th of 9/11 – we honor, we give special tribute to all who served that day and then the rescue and recovery, and all of our first responders.

9/11 is one of those moments, no matter how painful it was – a moment where we showed the world who we were and how strong we were, how resilient we were. Our first responders led the way. So, it’s particularly fitting that we honor them as well today.

I always say that Veteran’s Day is very personal for me and my family because my family, my parents were in the World War II generation. As I mentioned, they served – both of them. My father was in the Pacific [inaudible] in the Army. My mother – the Office of War Information. My wife is the same – her father served in the army in France and Italy, and her mother served in Springfield Armory, creating the armaments for our armed forces.

So, we grew up in a family that understood how powerful military service is, what a measure it is of one’s devotion to their nation. But the honest truth is we also saw all of the challenges that come with returning from military service. My wife saw it with her father. I saw it with my dad. My dad came from the Battle of Okinawa where he lost half of one leg, not just carrying with him the physical scars but carrying with him so much pain beyond that.

[Inaudible] reminder that the service that our men and women provide, we can’t think of it in finite terms. We can’t think of it as ending the day they take off the uniform or leave the battlefield. We have to remember our obligation to all veterans every day thereafter.

Now, in this city, we recognize this reality. In this city – yes, we want to take time for the ceremonies, and provide the honors, we want to take time to remember and respect but we want to do more than that. We want to do things that are tangible. We believe in serving our veterans in a way that they can feel in their lives, and their families can feel.

We believe it’s crucially important that every one of us be part of the work of serving our veterans. We all know – this is a statement that is truly bipartisan – that for too long, we’ve seen our nation fall short when it comes to taking care of those who served us. And it shouldn’t be.

And part of the solution is for us, in New York City, to show what can be but part of the solution is also for every single individual to be a part of serving our veterans.

Anyone who has a job that they’re looking to fill, fill it with a veteran. Do something for your country.

[Applause]

I have the honor of employing well over 350,000 people, and I say this with respect to everyone in our City workforce but I will tell you, I can almost always spot the veteran. No matter what the agency is, no matter what the assignment is, it’s someone who carries themselves a certain way, takes extra responsibility, provides extra leadership.

When you hire a veteran, I guarantee you, you will not only be doing the right thing, you will be doing yourself a favor because they’re that good.

[Applause]

We recognize in this city that the idea of a homeless veteran is an affront to all of our values. I want to commend President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. They said this whole country had to end the scourge of chronic veteran homelessness. The idea of a veteran being homeless for years on end was an affront to our ideals.

We took up their call. I’m very proud to say in this city we have ended chronic veteran homelessness.

[Applause]

But there are still veterans who become homeless and we will not rest until each and every one of them have a home – literally, each and every one of them. That is the standard we hold. Now, everyone here can be a part of that solution.

If you own a building and you rent apartments, I want you to do something very simple. Pick up the phone, call 3-1-1, tell us you want to rent an apartment to a homeless veteran and we will help get that veteran to you, and give them the home they deserve.

[Applause]

If you know a veteran with a disability, they have a right to a rent freeze. They have a right to have a burden lifted from them. Again, all you have to do is pick up the phone and call 3-1-1.

I know I’m preaching to the choir. I know this is an audience of people who – so many of you have served this country and so many of you have devoted your lives to serving our veterans. But let’s take this up a notch. Let’s do more.

This city is ready to go the distance. Anyone who put on a uniform and served us, we will never stop serving them.

Thank you and God bless you all.