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Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Delivers Remarks at NYPD Columbia Association

October 13, 2014

Mayor de Blasio: Well, I want to wish everyone a very, very happy Columbus Day. I have to tell you, for those of you who share this heritage – and to me it is one of the great blessings to understand our Italian heritage, to stay close to it, to teach it to our children and our grandchildren – this is a day when we remember what everyone who came before us did, to remember how hard they worked on our behalf.

You know, this July, I went back to the hometowns of my grandfather and grandmother. My grandfather Giovanni came from a town outside Naples. My grandmother Anna came from a town in Matera, very far south. And I saw these small towns that people dreamed somehow they could leave and come to America, and even come to a city as big as New York, and make something of themselves and build a future for their family. That is a miracle that – as we get farther and farther away from those years when our forbearers came – we might forget it a little bit. But we can’t forget what they believed was possible and what they did to achieve it. It is absolutely amazing what was given to all of us. And we have to maintain that pride as Italian-Americans and we have to share it with everyone, including people who aren’t Italian, because it’s something that is so extraordinary and so special.

Our forbearers taught us perseverance. They had a sense of hope. They had a sense of community. They shared with each other. They helped each other out. And there’s something beautiful about the story of what Italians have achieved in this country, now reaching every possible level of achievement in this country. And I just want to say to all of you, I am so appreciative for what you do to represent the Italian-American community through your service to the people of New York City. Because I appreciate you for the work you do, to begin with. We all depend on you. We all appreciate and understand how hard the work is. But I also appreciate you as examples to all Italian-Americans of what we’ve achieved in this country –  people who have reached this kind of level, to serve in the finest police force anywhere in this country – I would argue anywhere in the world. Who’s with me on that fact?

[Applause]

So, this is what our great grandparents, our grandparents, our parents dreamed of – people coming here and not only settling in, not only becoming part of America, not only prospering, but becoming representative of all that is great about America. You do that every day wearing the uniform you wear. I want to thank everyone who is a part of this event, I want to thank Richard Angeletti, your president, for the great job he’s doing. We give him a round of applause.

[Applause]

I want to thank someone who is here among us – and I think is the finest police leader in the United States of America – Bill Bratton, for all he is doing as our commissioner. I want to thank him for everything he's done for us.

[Applause]

Then I want to thank all – all the leaders of labor unions, who represent each and every part of the NYPD, and law enforcement beyond, for their commitment to all their members, who we depend on every day. I'm going to name them all. I'd like you to clap for all of them. 

Mike Palladino.

[Applause]

Pat Lynch.

[Applause]

John Puglissi

[Applause]

Michael Collins.

[Applause]

Roy Richter.

[Applause]

Louis Turco.

[Applause]

Ed Mullins.

[Applause]

To all of them – we appreciate their work. Also, I have a guy who came with me today, who was marching with me on the Avenue, who used to a part of this fine organization. Now, he's our commissioner for emergency management. He's doing a great job. Let's thank Joe Esposito for all he does.

[Cheers]

[Applause]

It's good to see people didn't forget Joe Esposito.

And I want to thank some other leaders who are here with us – the amazing council general of Italy here in New York City, Natalia Quintavalle. Thank you for representing Italy. 

[Applause]

And our Borough President of Manhattan Gale Brewer – let's thank her for all she does.

[Applause]

So, I just want to finish with this. I mentioned before, keeping this heritage alive is something very powerful. I mentioned – I went back to my grandfather's hometown, my grandmother's hometown. I brought my children Dante and Chiara with me. And my wife Chirlane and I, we believe that teaching heritage is so important, to have my children see where their great-grandparents, and great-great-grandparents, and before, were born. It was an amazing moment, for them to see and feel their origins. It makes you stronger.

So, all I can say is, let's in every way we can – not just remember our pride and our heritage this one day – every single day, share the language, share all the great history. I think it's easy to share the food. I think we're all good at that. Share the food! Share it all, with the next generation and the one after that. Teach them to be proud, because there's a lot to be proud of. Thank you, and God bless you. 

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