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Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Delivers Remarks at Veterans Day Breakfast

November 11, 2016

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Thank you. My friends, it is never easy for someone who has been adversity to talk about it, particularly in public, but that is a measure of a strong man. And I think we all owe a debt of gratitude to Chris Christian for his service to our nation, but also for speaking up for our veterans and offering his story, so other veterans will be served and supported as well. Let’s thank, Chris.

[Applause]

Let’s remember how many of our immigrant brothers and sisters choose to serve this nation and our military. Let’s remember that. Thank you, Chris, for being such a good example.

[Applause]

And a positive story in so many ways – because Chris had done everything right for his country and it is time for us to do right by him. And we found a great partner in Herlis Lazo welcoming Chris to his building stepping forward saying he wanted to be the landlord who took a veteran in; he wanted to honor our country, honor our military, and honor that service. He did something real about it by opening the doors of his building to Chris and his family. Let’s thank Herlis for being that [inaudible].

[Applause]

And if you want an example – the fact that public service matters and our public servants can do so much good – Jaqueline Rodriguez of our Public Engagement Unit, who found a way to get Chris the help he needed and get his family into the right building. Jaqueline raise your hand – I just want to thank you.

[Applause]

My dear friends, it is an example of the fact that Veterans Day is not supposed to be an idle exercise. It is not supposed to be just a time for a few public events; a time when we say the right words, but don’t live the right way. Veterans Day is a time to recommit ourselves to actually serving our veterans, actually taking care of them. And we’ve all seen for years and years too many times when good men and women slipped through the cracks. It shouldn’t be conceivable that that could even happen in the greatest nation on the earth. When we resolved in this city to make sure that our veterans actually got support they needed, actually had that helping hand. We resolved in this city to say we’re not going see those who serve us go without the basics in life. We’re not going to see them suffer. Veterans Day is so powerful because it has continued for years and years. And one of the things that gives us constancy – the 11th day, 11th month, and the way we have struck with a tradition, and that tradition has to also be renewed constantly in terms of what it means. I don’t think we ever could have foreseen a situation where so many good men and women didn’t get the help they need. So, this Veterans Day, let’s make it about something that last year around – that we all in our lives resolve – when we come across a veteran who needs help, that we will be the difference makers. The next time you meet someone like Chris, good man who just needs a helping hand – that we will be people who step up. We can make that difference.

The respect we have for our military needs to take a living form and in this city we have resolved to do that. Now, I want to tell you so many people here are worthy of praise and worthy of thanks. And no one is more worthy of our love and our support than the individuals over here who are members of Gold Star families. Let’s salute them and thank them.

[Applause]

And I want to say we – every one of us, one way or another, has a connection to our armed forces. So many of us have either served or have a connection to our families. We all may have a branch we have a particular love for. But this year, the featured branch deserves all of our praise and all our thanks, let’s thank the United States Coast Guard for all they do.

[Applause]

I want to thank members of my administration who are here. You heard from someone who certainly meets the definition of a life force of someone who has that incredible energy and focus and make a difference for our veterans. Some people call her the Commissioner for the Department of Veteran Services. I like to call her Brigadier General Loree Sutton. Let’s thank her.

[Applause]

I want to thank other members of our administration, Cultural Affairs Commissioner Tom Finkelpearl, our Chief Service Officer, Paula Gavin, and our Executive Director for the Mayor’s Office of Special Projects and Events – that does these wonderful gatherings – Carla Matero. Let’s thank all of them.

[Applause]

Many elected officials are here who support our veterans in so many ways. Let’s thank Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, State Senator Liz Kruger, Assembymember Jo Anne Simon, Assemblymember Richard Gottfried, and Councilmember Mathieu Eugene. Thank you all.

[Applause]

Finally, my former boss is here – a man I have such great respect for and has done so much for this city. But he also likes to be remembered, first and foremost, as a member of the United States Marines, Mayor David Dinkins.

[Applause]

I see we have some raucous marines in the crowd today.

[Laughter]

I reflect on Veterans Day in a very personal manner. And I think so many of us do. My family, I think, was unusual. My parents had me when I was – excuse me, when they were pretty well along in life – 44 years old. They were the World War II generation. And my wife’s parents – she had a similar reality. The World War II generation – my dad served in the Pacific in the 7th division, U.S. Army.

Unknown: [Inaudible]

Mayor: There you go.

[Laughter]

My wife’s dad served in Europe in France and Italy of the United States Army. Her mom – you can clap.

We always want people to clap for the army.

[Applause]

We’re a double army family, so we accept multiple applauses for the army.

My wife’s mom served the Springfield armory in Massachusetts that created the [inaudible] needed for the war effort. My mom served the Office of War Information years ago in this city.

So, in our family [inaudible] all four of the parents of my generation served as part of that greatest generation. And we grew up with a tremendous essential core respect for those who served the military. But we also saw the pain and the challenges. My dad lost half a leg on Okinawa in the end of that battle – one of the toughest in human history. My wife’s dad, Robert, came back with a lot of pain as well. And it played out over their lives and then affected all of our family members.

We saw the honor and heroism. We saw strength. We also saw the pain. You know, on Veterans Day it’s a time to remember both. Those who serve give so much – give so much. Our obligation is to try and match that in any way we can, no matter how humble our efforts are compared to those who served in battle. It is still our obligation to find a way to do the best we can.

Loree Sutton shares this deep commitment and I know she has been a leader in addressing the real tangible mental health challenges that our veterans face. One thing my wife, Chirlane, talks about is that we have to be open and honest about mental health. It is just part of the human condition; de-stigmatize, so we can reach a helping hand to everyone who needs. I know Loree has been at the forefront of that in the military and since she left the military. We took on that urging the Obama administration had given. I give the President and First Lady Obama tremendous credit for focusing on veteran homelessness. We took on the challenge here and we said the goal was to end, once and for all, chronic veteran homelessness; the reality – some of our veterans being homeless long-term. We said that had to end here in New York City. It has ended here in New York City.

[Applause]

And here is an example, with the right leadership, with the commitment of so many since we gathered last Veterans Day, just a year ago, we have placed over 1,600 homeless veterans into permanent housing.

[Applause]

And, of course, we are so proud – the first ever New York City Department of Veteran’s Services leading the way to reach more and more vets who need our help.

[Applause]

I want to conclude with just a couple points. We honor our heroes. We lost one of them recently here in this city from Jamaica, Queens Audley Coulthurst was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen. And that group of young men are gathered together were exemplary in the work they did in the war effort and have been exemplary ever since as leaders, examples. And he said something very powerful about why he spent so much time talking to young people over the many years since World War II. He said, “They need to be inspired. They need to know that if you set a goal for yourself and you keep trying even when it is difficult you could achieve it, which is how I became a Tuskegee Airman.” Think about that man who just wanted to serve his country and was shunned to the side, but kept coming back until he achieved his goal. And think about how that changed our history.

So many veterans inspire us. We need to thank take that inspiration and turn it into a work of hand. If you see any veteran who doesn’t have a home, it is our job to get it to them. Everyone here – everyone could be part of this. If you own a building and you have apartments in that building that you rent, call 3-1-1 and tell us that you want to rent the apartment to a veteran, because that is going to help us connect those who need it. If you know a veteran who has a disability, any veteran with a disability in New York City paying rent, is eligible for a rent freeze. Their rent does not have to change. It is under state law, but so many of our veterans don’t even know it. They can call 3-1-1 – you can call 3-1-1 for them and get the information and sign them up for that rent freeze. There are so many ways we can help the veterans in our lives and those [inaudible]. So, I want to thank everyone here for being a part of this gathering, part of this moment of appreciation and respect for all those who have served. I will ask you to be soldiers in the army of people who are going to lend that helping hand to our veterans each and every day.

Thank you and God bless you all.

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