Transcript: Mayor Adams Delivers Remarks at Memorial for American Airlines Flight 587

November 12, 2023

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

Mayor Eric Adams: I want to really display not only our visual presence to all those who were on Flight 587, but also to show how much our hearts go out to the families, to be joined here by the assemblywoman of this area, [Stacey] Pheffer Amato, but also joined by our highest Dominican elected official here and Congressman Espaillat, and the highest-ranking Dominican in my administration, Ana Almanzar, my deputy mayor.

On behalf of 8.3 million New Yorkers, my presence here today is to symbolize how much we stand with you during this moment of reflection. And although words cannot take away your pain, although words will not bring back your nieces, your nephews, your uncles, your mothers, your sisters, your brothers, although words will not bring back the memories that you are losing because of during this season of Thanksgiving, you feel as though you were robbed of the ability to spend many more memorable moments with them.

Our words are attempts to bring you solidarity and comfort. Our words are our way of embracing you. Our words are our way of telling you we feel your pain. And I want to thank the organizers for the continuation of over 20 years of bringing us together and stating that during this moment of uncertainty, we can come together, mourn together, celebrate the lives of those we lost together.

This is such a painful period, and I can reflect on a day when I saw the smoke coming from this area and watching what happened. A police officer at the time watching the emergency vehicles make their way to the scene. 9/11 was fresh on our minds. So many things went through our heads hoping that this was not another level of devastation or terrorism.

But even though it was not terrorism, it still brought us terror. And I know that many of you wondering were your loved ones on the flight going to Santo Domingo. You held your breath hoping that you would not hear the names, hoping that your names will not join the list of names that were read today, hoping it was not true, only to find out it was.

My heart breaks and bleeds for you. But as your mayor, I stand here and tell you you have my deepest, deepest condolences. And I listened to the babies cry, and I watched the mother hear as she hugged her child and the baby that's inside the carriage now. They're going to grow up remembering this day and looking at the photos of those that we remember.

It is so hard and so painful, and it takes so long and really it never goes away. I'm constantly reminder of losing my mother too close to two years ago. I still miss her so much. I still think about her every day. I still wonder how life would be during this time of the year when we sat down together. I know that pain. Is so familiar, and I want to tell you that together we would get through this painful moment together.

And so on behalf of the City of New York and as your mayor, I'm here in support of you. I thank you for allowing me to be here with you, and I thank our congressman and my deputy mayor and the assemblywoman for seeing how important this is to this community.

Close to a million New Yorkers are of Dominican descent. You are an important community to this city and your contributions, and this is a great loss that we're all feeling, but together we will get through this. Muchas gracias.

[...]

US Representative Adriano Espaillat: Thank you. Thank you. The big crowds may be gone, the cameras may not be around in the large numbers that were before, but the pain will not subside for our community. [Speaks in Spanish.]

Some of the children that are here today were not even born then, but they still feel the pain. [Speaks in Spanish.] So all of us knew someone that was in the flight. [Speaks in Spanish.]

Belkis Lora: Good morning, family, friends, elected officials, and media. On behalf of the committee in memory of Flight 587, I thank you for being with us on this day. My name is Belkis Lora, and I've been through this painful time with the families.

We gather once again to honor and remember our loved ones. Today marks another anniversary without the presence or all those we lost a morning like today. 22 years has passed and that day is still marked in our hearts.

Today we remember the love and the beautiful memory they left in our life. Just as we honor our loved one, let me honor the artist who passed away last year who left us this memorial behind me so their names will be remembered forever. Whenever you are, we thank you, Freddy Rodríguez, for left us with this beautiful memorial where we can find comfort.

Before concluding, allow me to express my deepest gratitude to the families of the victims for their support throughout these years. Congressman Adriano Espaillat for being with us today. To the media, remembering us on this day. Officer Victor, New York Police Department, Rockaway Precinct 100 for all his support for me in this event. And last but not least, to Mayor Eric Adams for taking his time to accompany us on this solemn day as well as to his team for their support: Valerie, Kevin, Miosotis and Mr. Cruz who made this commemoration possible.

Thank you very much. God bless all. And now we'll proceed to this beautiful memorial to pay our respect to our loved one. Thank you for being here. [Speaks in Spanish.]

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