Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Delivers Remarks at One Police Plaza Memorial Wall

May 5, 2016

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Thank you so much, Lieutenant.

This is such an important day. It’s a day when we honor heroes we’ve lost. And I hope you feel, as I do, that I want to express my gratitude to the societies and organizations that provided these floral tributes because in that moment you see everything about New York City all together in unity to honor these brave individuals. And it reminds us of what binds us together – every type of person from every part of the world represented by all these societies that do so much good – all gathered together in common cause right now.

We’re going to, today, honor 19 extraordinary individuals who did so much for all of us. And they did what most people just would not have the strength to do. Most people would not choose to put on a uniform and answer the call of duty and go toward the danger. We can say that for a fact – these individuals did.

And I want to tell all the family members – we appreciate all of you for the love and support that you gave them when they were with us and for the way you keep their memories alive today.

I want to thank the leadership of the NYPD that’s present here today, particularly Commissioner Bratton and First Deputy Commissioner Tucker and Chief of Department O’Neill and all the leadership gathered for this solemn ceremony.

I want to thank the District Attorney of Staten Island, Mike McMahon, for joining us, and all the labor leaders who are here – Pat Lynch and Mike Palladino and Roy Richter – we thank you.

There are 881 names on the Memorial Wall. It goes back to 1849, and really reminds us there’s an unbroken chain of people who served and sacrificed and made this city what it was. If they hadn’t protected us generation after generation, we could not be what we are today – and it’s humbling to think about that service, and to know we are adding 19 more names.

The courage that these individuals showed lives up to some of the most powerful words our nation ever heard – and it came from Abraham Lincoln, when he talked about the last full measure of devotion. That’s what these individuals did. They gave to everyone else.

Sixteen of them died as a result of their selfless efforts – the months of search, the months of recovery efforts at Ground Zero. Two fell in the line of duty here on the streets of this city. One died while on active-duty serving the United States military in Afghanistan. His name was NYPD Detective and Army National Guard, Staff Sergeant Joseph Lemm. And his story serves to inspire us. It’s so extraordinary that one man, so many times, answered the call. It reminds us of what a human being is capable of when they believe in something. Fifteen-year NYPD veteran – so accomplished, so respected by his colleagues – then served his country three different times overseas, and joined the search for survivors at Ground Zero.

It’s hard to imagine that one person could do so much so young.

Like very single NYPD member memorialized on the Wall, Detective Lemm represented the best of us. He represented everything we hold dear and everything we think is great about this place.

We resolve to never forget any of those who served us so bravely, so honorably. We won’t forget their bravery. We need to remember it to inspire us to do the best we can do.

We can take some solace, however, in the notion that they achieved something – and something lasting. They made this city safer and better. They made this world a better place by their efforts, by their example. And their sacrifice and all they did reverberates to this day – these 19 officers achieved things that are lasting.

Every day the NYPD builds on their efforts – the legacy. It’s not static. It grows. It’s deepened all the time.

So on behalf of eight-and-half million New Yorkers, I want to thank all these brave individuals. I want to thank their families. I want you to know their sacrifices, though so painful, did so much for so many.

In their memories, we will persevere. We will persevere believing that this great city will continue to be great and be greater still, to be safer still, to be stronger still – for all.

Thank you and God bless you all.