Transcript: Mayor Adams Delivers Remarks Commemorate Tragedy of American Airlines Flight 587

November 12, 2024

Teresita Corporal: It is my honor to introduce to you at this moment the mayor of New York City, Mayor Eric Adams, and Deputy Mayor Ana Almanzar.

Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you so much. And as I look out into the audience to see the photos and see the tears, and see the men and women of the various law enforcement agencies and generals, but particularly the Department of Correction, and I thank our commissioner that's here, and the first deputy mayor and Commissioner Rodriguez as well. The pain does not dissipate.

Over 20 something years is still as fresh and as new to the family members who feel the loss. And it is so important that we read over the names, because it allows us to hold on to those memories. They are more than [an assembly] of letters and characters, but they are who we held on to and who we knew. Flight 587 will always be remembered.

Weeks after [the] September 11th attack, we were still mourning the death and loss of so many people. And to find out right here in this community of Belle Harbor, a simple trip en route, to the Dominican Republic, had to experience such a devastating loss to the Dominican community here in the city, but also to every New Yorker.

And we're here today as a constant reminder of those that we lost, not only the crew members, but the family members. And for those who are holding the photos and feeling the tears and feeling the pain of this constant reminder, we want to say that we are with you, we mourn with you, we remember with you, and we stand with you. May God bless those we lost, and may God bless the family members and friends that are here today. Thank you very much.

Corporal: It is my pleasure to introduce to you the New York City commissioner, Department of Transportation, Ydanis Rodriguez.

Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez: Lo que yo voy a hacer es que voy a traducir lo que dijo el alcalde, ¿verdad?

Translation: What I'm going to do is I'm going to translate what the mayor said, right?

I'm going to translate what the mayor said instead of adding any new words. The mayor speaks for the whole city.

El alcalde habló por toda la ciudad. Él y toda la ciudad reconocemos, [la deputy mayor] vice alcaldesa Almanzar, lo que es la pena que sentimos todos. Y yo le agrego que aun lo que venimos a expresar es la solidaridad, nunca vamos a sentir el dolor, las heridas que todavía están abiertas de ustedes como sus familiares. Pero el alcalde ha dicho de que es un momento de, aunque han pasado 20 años, todavía sentimos las penas. Y que es muy importante decir cada nombre porque, detrás de cada nombre, lo importante es recordar los bellos momentos, la bella historia, lo que pasamos con ellos.

Translation: The mayor spoke for the entire city. He and the entire city recognize, and deputy mayor Almanzar, the pain that we all feel. And I add that what we came to express is solidarity, we will never feel the pain, the wounds that are still open for you and your family. But the mayor has said that it is a moment of, although 20 years have passed, we still feel the pain. And that it is very important to say each name because, behind each name, the important thing is to remember the beautiful moments, the beautiful story, what we went through with them.

Y estamos seguros de que lo que quieren nuestros familiares es que nosotros cambiemos esas lágrimas, que siempre van a salir, por una sonrisa recordando los bellos momentos que vivimos con ellos. Como ciudad estamos aquí con los familiares para dejarles saber de que este es un momento que siempre la ciudad los va sentir pero que siempre pueden estar seguros que, como alcalde y como ciudad, estamos con todas las familias. Gracias.

Translation: And we are sure that what our relatives want is for us to replace those tears, which will always come, with a smile remembering the beautiful moments we lived with them. As a city, we are here with the relatives to let them know that this is a moment that the city will always feel, but that they can always be sure that, as mayor and as a city, we are with all the families. Thank you.

Corporal: We now invite the president of the committee in memory of Flight 587 with the closing remarks, Belkis Lora.

Belkis Lora, President, Committee in Memory of Flight 587: Good morning to the families, friends, elected officials, and members of the media.

Buenos días a los familiares, amigos, funcionarios, electos y miembros de los medios de comunicación.

Translation: Good morning to family, friends, elected officials and members of the media.

On behalf of the family, I extend my heartfelt gratitude for joining us today.

En nombre de las familias, les tiendo mi más sincero agradecimiento por acompañarnos hoy.

Translation: On behalf of the families, I extend my sincere thanks to you for joining us today.

We gather once again to honor and remember our loved, our beloved families and friends who left us too soon. Over the past 23 years, many aspects of our life have changed. The children who lost their parents on the flight have since become adults. Sadly, we have also lost a loved one who has stood by us for many years.

Yet, one thing remains constant. Our commitment to remembering this day and honoring the memories. Even in our sadness and pain, this day, in honoring their memory, we take this time to honor the memory of our loved ones on this day.

Nos reunimos una vez más para honrar y recordar a nuestras queridas familias y amigos que nos dejaron demasiado pronto. En los últimos 23 años, muchos aspectos de nuestras vidas han cambiado.

Translation: We gather once again to honor and remember our beloved families and friends who left us too soon. Over the past 23 years, many aspects of our lives have changed.

Los niños que perdieron a sus padres en el vuelo 587 ahora son adultos. Lamentablemente, también perdimos a seres queridos que nos acompañaron por muchos años. Sin embargo, una cosa permanece constante, nuestro compromiso de recordar esta fecha y honrar su memoria.

Translation: The children who lost their parents on Flight 587 are now adults. Sadly, we also lost loved ones who were with us for many years. However, one thing remains constant: our commitment to remember this date and honor their memory.
Nuestro dolor y tristeza no han sido motivo para no recordar este día.

Translation: Our pain and sadness has not been a reason to not remember this day.

Today we remember the love and the beautiful memories they left behind, which fill our lives with confidence and awareness, guiding us through each day without them. We also pay tribute to Freddy Rodriguez, the talented artist who designed this beautiful memorial to ensure our loved ones' memories will live forever.

Translation: Hoy recordamos el amor y los hermosos recuerdos que dejaron atrás, que llenan nuestras vidas, de consuelo y calidez, guiándonos cada día sin ellos. También rendimos homenaje a Freddy Rodríguez, el talentoso artista que diseñó este monumento pacifico para garantizar que los recuerdos de nuestros seres queridos permanezcan por siempre.

Before concluding, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the family of Flight 587 for their support through all these years. And to the New York Correctional Department that are here with us today. Commissioner of New York City Department of Transportation, Ydanis Rodriguez, for his ongoing support through the years.

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants, [Cristian Santana] and [Nato Herinoso Martinez,] who are here with us. [Peter Boama,] President of the 100th Beach Rockaway. And last but not least, to Mayor Eric Adams and Deputy Mayor Ana Almanzar for taking the time to accompany us on this supreme day, as well as all his team to support and everyone who made this commemoration possible.

Please join me in paying tribute to our loved ones with a flower. Please allow the [elected officials] to walk to the monument to pay tribute to our loved ones. Thank you.

Por favor, únanse a mí para rendir homenaje a nuestros seres queridos con una flor. Por favor, permitan que los oficiales electos rindan tributo a nuestros seres queridos. Gracias y que Dios los bendiga.

Translation: Please join me in honoring our loved ones with a flower. Please allow elected officials to honor our loved. Thank you and God bless.

###

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.