Thank you, everyone, for being here to remember those we lost, those we loved, and still love in our hearts, and to support each other. I want to thank Father Cruz for the beautiful invocation that started this ceremony and for all he does for the community. I want to acknowledge and thank the Consul General to New York City of the Dominican Republic Carlos Castillo. Thank you, Consul General.
All those who lead us today with the reading of the names, which they did so beautifully – thank you to Raphaela Frias, Ana Reyes, Freddy Rodriguez, and Karen Tavarez. Thank you all so much. And I want to thank, for her leadership in helping to bring us together each year, Belkis Lora. Thank you Belkis, so much, for all you do.
Seventeen years have passed. As I was talking to some of you gathered here today, we’re all in a way unable to imagine that it’s been fully 17 years. And that morning started out like any other day, and then tragedy struck and everyone’s lives were changed. 265 good people lost, and we remember them here and they are remembered throughout the Dominican Republic.
We remember those who were lost in Belle Harbor and we remember how much it has been a sense of loss for 17 years.
We will never forget Flight 587 and those good people we lost – our friends, our families, our neighbors, all we loved. There is a simple and powerful line from scripture – “Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.” I know today we are all mourning but I know everyone is comforting each other.
And we take comfort also from the fact that even in the midst of that tragedy we saw heroism, we saw the men and women of the NYPD and the FDNY come forward to do all they could to save lives. That heroism reminds us every day of the good in humanity. And we take comfort in the bonds that formed between all of the families here, bonds formed in tragedy but still deep bonds of love and friendship and respect.
I speak on behalf of all 8.6 million New Yorkers when I say, may you always find that comfort in each other and may all who are lost rest in peace.
God bless you all.
