Senator Brooks Speaks at Police Remembrance Memorial

In January 1989, New York State enacted legislation providing for the construction of "a monument honoring and properly reflecting the duty, dignity and devotion of the police officers of New York State who are slain in the line of duty." Since the wall was dedicated in 1991, the names of 1,567 police officers (this year's additions included) have been engraved in the memorial's black granite walls.  As Chairman of The Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security, and Military Affairs, Senator Brooks was asked to speak at today's re-dedication. Here are his remarks:

WE STAND HERE TODAY TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO HAVE CHOSEN AS THEIR PURPOSE IN LIFE TO PROTECT AND SERVE WHETHER IN LOCAL, STATEWIDE, OR FEDERAL SERVICE. THESE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN HAVE PLEDGED THEIR LIVES TO STAND ON THE THIN BLUE LINE BETWEEN OUR SAFETY AND THE DANGERS OF OUR WORLD…AND IT IS A SAD TRUTH THAT SOME OF THOSE LIVES ARE SACRIFICED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.

OUR PURPOSE HERE TODAY IS TO HONOR THAT SACRIFICE. POLICE OFFICERS FROM ALL OVER THIS STATE ARE ASSEMBLED HERE AS WE ADD THE NAMES OF 63 HEROES WHO HAVE DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY TO THE POLICE OFFICERS MEMORIAL. INCLUDED IN THE 63 OFFICERS WE HONOR TODAY ARE 59 HEROES WHO WERE LOST ON 911. 

WE HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN LOST, BUT WE ALSO HONOR THE SACRIFICE OF THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED AND MOURNED THOSE TERRIBLE LOSSES. TO THE FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES OF THESE FALLEN HEROES, I HOPE THIS CEREMONY CAN BRING SOME SMALL COMFORT AND THAT YOU UNDERSTAND IT IS BUT A SMALL SEMBLANCE OF THE GRATITUDE, RESPECT, AND APPRECIATION WE HOLD FOR THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF YOUR LOVED ONES.

THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT “NO ONE HAS GREATER LOVE THAN THIS, TO LAY DOWN ONE'S LIFE FOR ONE'S FRIENDS.” TO THESE HEROES WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LAST BREATH TO THE SERVICE AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN LIFE, WE SHOW OUR GRATITUDE BY CARVING THEIR NAME IN STONE SO THAT THEIR SACRIFICE WILL NOT BE WORN AWAY BY THE FORCES OF INCLEMENT WEATHER.  WE ALSO SHOW OUR GRATITUDE TO THOSE WHO REMAIN, SO THAT YOU WHO HAVE TO SPEND THE REST OF YOUR LIVES WITHOUT THAT MOTHER OR FATHER, HUSBAND OR WIFE, SON OR DAUGHTER, SISTER OR BROTHER, MAY FIND SOME SMALL SOLACE IN KNOWING THAT THEIR NAMES WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SACRIFICE AND KNOW THAT WE MOURN YOUR LOSS AS YOU DO. GOD BLESS YOU AND GOD BLESS THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE OF OUR FAMILIES, OUR COMMUNITIES, AND OUR NATION.