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The Remarks of Speaker Carl E. Heastie

2016 New York State Police Officers Memorial

Tuesday, May 10, 2016
As Prepared For Delivery

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Good afternoon.

Today we come together as grateful citizens to honor the lives of our fallen heroes.

We stand shoulder to shoulder… heart to heart alongside their comrades and their loved ones to give thanks for their courage.

Each year, we gather to remember their names, their service and the tremendous love they had for the people of this great state.

The Bible tells us in the Book of John, Chapter 15 verse 13, Greater love hath no man than this… that a man lay down his life for his friends.

The brave individuals whose names are memorialized today may have been strangers to some of us in life but they were our truest friends in spirit.

They never stopped to ask who WE were before putting their lives on the line. In those critical moments, a choice was made.

Because of their vow to stand guard and stand strong, New Yorkers across this state are free to live their lives without fear.

We must never forget that we are living in dangerous times and life is not as simple as it once was.

When our communities and our homes are threatened, these are the heroes who take up the shield… without question and without fail.

There truly is no greater love and I speak for all New Yorkers when I say we are forever thankful for their friendship.

To those who have fallen and to those continue their watch, thank you for being our armor and our friends.

We offer our continued prayers for safety to all of our uniformed officers and their loved ones.

May God bless you all.

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