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Transcript: Mayor Bill de Blasio, First Lady Chirlane McCray Deliver Remarks at Greek Independence Day Reception

April 7, 2016

First Lady Chirlane McCray: Welcome, everyone. This is the people’s house. This is your house, and you are always welcome here.

[Applause]

And when I say this is your house, I really mean it, because there’s a lot of Greek in the bones of Gracie Mansion. Just look around this ballroom, which is ringed with Corinthian pillars. Take a look. Right? I want you to know that the rest of this house was also built with a rigorous symmetry that originated with the Ancient Greeks.

Now, I point this out because I want you to know how deeply ingrained Greek culture is in our every day lives. And I’m not just talking about great architecture – ideas that originated in Greece are in the DNA of our democracy, our literature, our art – one might even say in the pillars of American culture.

Now, that is one of the most wonderful things about living in New York City – you don’t need a plane ticket to experience the very best of Greece. As a result of your hard work, Greek culture is alive and well throughout the five boroughs. 

[First Lady Chirlane McCray speaks in Greek]

[Applause]

Thank you for everything that you’ve done to keep New York City as home to one of the world’s most vibrant Greek communities. It is now my great pleasure to introduce a man whose legacy stretches from Athens to Astoria – Archbishop Demetrios. 

[…]

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Archbishop, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the warmth you always show. I have the joy and the honor of working with wonderful spiritual leaders all over this city of all backgrounds. I must say, Archbishop Demetrios is unsurpassed in warmth; in his learned nature; in the embrace he gives to all people. And I have come to a conclusion based on his oration, it’s in his DNA.

[Laughter]

[Applause]

Just so you know, your students are paying attention.

[Laughter]

Welcome, everyone, to Gracie Mansion. For Chirlane and I, it is a real honor to have you here to celebrate the extraordinary contributions of the Greek community to this city, to this nation, and in fact to the world. So, we’re gathered here to celebrate something very, very special. I want you to know that we in this city – against a backdrop of a raging national debate, and even global debate, on questions of immigration and migration – we remain proud of being the ultimate city of immigrants. In fact, I would argue New York City is more relevant than ever as an example to the world that immigration makes us stronger; that people of all backgrounds can work together. And we know there are some tragically divisive voices all over this world, but we are an answer to those who would seek violence and division, because, here in New York City, we manage to get along and find common purpose. And it’s something very striking – if you spend time around our spiritual leaders, the bond between the spiritual leaders of the different faiths here in this city – it’s so striking in how they come together in any time of need. We saw a beautiful version of that during His Holiness Pope Francis’s visit in September – how he, of course, welcomed a wide variety of religious leaders together. But they stood together in harmony. So, we as New Yorkers – I think what we do is more relevant than ever because the world needs examples of people finding that harmony across differences, and the world needs examples of all that diversity adding up to something even better. And New York City provides that – something we should all be very proud of.

I want to tell you that we know this city wouldn’t be the same if it weren’t for the extraordinary imprint of the Greek community. We see it in our cultural life; we see it in our business community; we see it in the very foundation of our democracy; we see it in the design of our coffee cups.

[Laughter]

It’s really everywhere if you think about it.

[Laughter]

And people are celebrating today and will be celebrating with a wonderful parade on Sunday. And many people wanted to be a part of this celebration. I want to mention some special people who have joined us from our administration. I want to thank – our Commissioner for Corrections is here – Joe Ponte; I want to thank our Commissioner for Community Affairs Marco Carrión; my special counsel Henry Berger; the Chair of the Civilian Complaint Review Board, Richard Emery; our Director for Special Events, who you saw earlier, Carla Matero; and the leading Greek in our administration – you may not be able to see her easily in this room because she’s not he tallest member of our administration. Where is she? Is she out there? Point her out to me. Emma Wolfe come out and be seen.

[Laughter]

Emma Wolfe was giving me Greek language lessons right before we came in the door –

[Applause]

– one of my very most trusted aides and someone who does tremendous things to make New York City better. So, the Greeks are well represented at City Hall.

[Applause]

I believe that from the State Senate – I believe State Senator Michael Gianaris is here. Where is he? Michael, so good to see you.

[Applause]

You have a fan club here. And then some wonderful dignitaries who have joined us; Ambassador Catherine Boura, the permanent representative of Greece to the United Nations – we thank you so much.

[Applause]

The Counsel General of Greece, Georgios – now, let me see if I can do it right – I did it before really well, hold on.

[Laughter]

Iliopoulos – Iliopoulos.

[Applause]

You know, it looks so much easier before you actually have to execute it in public. The Ambassador and Counsel General of Cypress in New York Vasilios Philippou, thank you for being here.

[Applause]

And the Deputy Minister of National Defense of Greece Dimitrios Vitsas, thank you so much for joining us.

[Applause]

Now, a dear friend was here and had to leave just before the program began. I think you all know Father Alex, who is a dear friend of Chirlane and mine. And Father Alex – you can clap for him –

[Applause]

He said something important on the way out the door. You know, Archbishop, even when he has to leave, Father Alex says something helpful. So, he said something very powerful – that this coming weekend on the island of Lesbos, the Pope and the Patriarch will gather together on this issue I mentioned that is so essential around the world. Two voices of conscience calling the world to compassion and understanding and mutual effort on behalf of migrants – with all the challenges they face and we thank them for that.

[Applause]

And I should note anyone who watches the reality of the world today appreciates how Greece has stood up in the midst of this extraordinary moment of change and transition in the Middle East, in Europe – the biggest migration since World War II. And Greece and born the brunt, but Greece has born the brunt with compassion and strength, and all of the western world owes appreciation to Greece. I had the honor of meeting with Prime Minister Tsipras when he was here in September. I expressed my adoration for all that he was doing, and that Greece was doing in the face of so many challenges. And I, personally – and I’ve said this publicly many times – it is up to the European Union, in more ways than one, to come to the defense of Greece and offer more of a helping hand in Greece’s hour of need.

[Applause]

All of that history the Archbishop went over, all of that foundation of civilization and democracy that we acknowledge, comes from Greeks and the Grecian people should come with it a sense of obligation from the rest of us to be there for people who have given us so much, to be there for a nation that has given us so much.

[Applause]

So, 195 years of independence – Archbishop, your words were so powerful. I felt transported back in time to that year, to 1821, to feel what it must have meant around the world to see these patriots rise up – the ultimate underdogs win the day. And I think they would appreciate – think of those brave freedom fighters, I think the would appreciate – they’d probably be amazed that fast-forward 195 years in this beautiful mansion in the middle of modern New York City, they are being celebrated, they are being remembered just as if their deeds were yesterday. And there’s something beautiful about that – honoring that independence movement and all it stood for. 

Now, the Greek people took that spirit and brought it here, and New York City is so much the better. And something striking – we know that from the early 1900s, there was a large Greek community in Lower Manhattan, and, as the community thrived, the community understood it had to make its imprint, and it had to uphold its faith, and its culture – and so was created a Greek Orthodox church in Lower Manhattan at 155 Cedar Street. A group of five families got together and purchased a building to create a church, and St. Nicholas was born. A church of such importance to the community came from that simple act by five families. It was where families worshipped for generations. And the family of Olga Pavlakos, who’s here with us tonight – where’s Olga?

Olga Pavlakos: I’m here.

Mayor: There’s Olga. Thank you. Her grandparents were among the founders of the church.

[Applause]

And Olga was baptized there with so many members of her family over the generations. And her parents were married there, and they shared Easter celebrations in the church. It was such a fundamental part of their lives. And St. Nicholas was also a place that believed in welcome for all peoples – really an epitome of New York City. Regardless of who you were – you could Greek, or you could not be Greek – it didn’t matter, you were welcome to come into a place of peace and reflection. What a treasure this church was for our City, but then came 9/11, and this little church that so many had built up over the years and so many had worshipped in faithfully – it became buried in the rubble of the Twin Towers. 

But, you know what? People not only from the Greek community, not only from this City, but literally from around the world gathered together to support the effort to bring the church back to life. People from this country, people from Greece, people who believed the church could be rebuilt, and Olga was in the forefront of that effort. Donations poured in, some as small as $5, some as big as $5 million. But it didn’t matter what the size of the donation, what matters is that people cared and believed the church had to be restored. And so, we are so proud that the St. Nicholas National Shrine will rise above Ground Zero and mark a moment of rebirth. And the traditions, the strength of the community, the faith, the continuity, the understanding of heritage all will be recognized again and will flourish again in that act of rebirth. 

There’s so much to celebrate. There’s so much to be proud of. So, I want to thank everyone for gathering here for supporting each other in this wonderful community, for remembering those patriots from 195 years ago, for contributing so much to this city and this country. And I wish you a wonderful evening. And now, we’ll see how Emma Wolfe’s language lessons were. 

[Laughter]

[Mayor de Blasio speaks in Greek]

How’s that?

[Applause]

[Mayor de Blasio speaks in Greek]

Thank you, everyone. Good night. 

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