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  May 25, 2003
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Honoring the Men and Women Protecting Our Freedom

By Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg

There has never been a time when our men and women in uniform have been more important to defending our security and freedom. This past Memorial Day weekend, as I took time to honor all those who have paid the price for our liberty, and I remembered in particular four New Yorkers who lost their lives in the fighting in Iraq. They are: Army Specialist Rasheed Sahib, Marine Staff Sergeant Riayan Tejada, Marine Corporal Robert Marcus Rodriguez and Marine Lance Corporal William White. They fell in battle halfway around the world-but they were fighting in a war that began here, on the streets of New York, some 20 months ago. That gives us a special appreciation for the sacrifice that they made. Many New Yorkers remain on active duty in distant lands, and our prayers are also with them.

In these uncertain times, good homeland security is also an essential part of our defense-and no city does a better job of protecting against potential terrorist attacks than New York. We take preparedness and counter-terrorism seriously. Earlier this month, along with some 450 police officers, firefighters, emergency management personnel and others, I participated in a five-hour anti-terrorism simulation called "Operation Winter Sun." It was the fourth such exercise I've taken part in, and the first of four such drills planned for this year.

And the NYPD's Counter-Terrorism Bureau has done such an outstanding job that President Bush has nominated Deputy Commissioner Frank Libutti for an important post in the Department of Homeland Security. Two weeks ago, I joined Police Commissioner Ray Kelly in naming his replacement: Michael Sheehan, a former Army Special Forces commander, who, as an ambassador-at-large, also directed the State Department's international counter-terrorism efforts. As a frontline commander and policy maker, he has been involved in many of the most important national security and peacekeeping efforts of the last 25 years; he is superbly qualified to lead the NYPD's counter-terrorism efforts.

Of course, Memorial Day has another significance, too. It's also the unofficial beginning of summer. Two weeks ago, I administered the oath of office to some of the approximately 1,100 lifeguards expected to work at the City's beaches and 52 public outdoor swimming pools this summer. That represents one of the largest contingents of lifeguards we've had in recent years. City beaches opened yesterday; pools will open Saturday, June 28th. And they will all stay open right though Labor Day. They're one of the great features of life in New York, and I urge all New Yorkers to take advantage of them…to enjoy the summer…and to treasure the liberty and right to pursue happiness that have been safeguarded for us.

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