 So it's such a it's such a great honor to have been asked to do this this year I see Linda Schmidt out there who is also a former Grand Marshal and an old friend and an important part of New York City's every day goings on But it's funny for me the last time I was here was the night of September 11th 22 years ago And we had a meeting and they were telling us how Horrible at what we just went through it had some experts here that night And they said you'll find no survivors of what happened today, and they were right except for some Guys we had and ladies we had in us in a stairway that was like a miracle to survive But it goes back I go back a long time with this building a phenomenal of great great events like this a lot of really Happy events with the Yankees and stuff which probably not so happy this year, but the mayor Adams doesn't have the luxury of Celebrating with those guys, but we had a lot of good events here and a lot of things that Really made me so very proud New York City and great people that I got an opportunity with so it's a great honor for me this year I look forward to it spoke to a lot of wonderful people here tonight And it's my honor to introduce Bob Ratsky who for 15 years has been the general chairman of the German-American Stoibann Parade which has proudly marched down Fifth Avenue for 66 years. So welcome Bob and enjoy your night Even everyone I Welcome you to Gracie mansion We are honored tonight to introduce the mayor of the city of New York the greatest city of New York We've had over 70 million Germans with ancestry in this country So there's a big population of Germans that like to introduce a great mayor Mayor Adams Thank you We are we are Extremely excited. I see my fellow members of the police department that's here and Remember back in the days when I was with it in New York City Police Department how proud Disturbing society was and just lifting up the German heritage the most exciting Aspect that I wanted to make sure I was here because I was told I get an opportunity to do a good German beer toast So we're looking forward to that but the rich tradition of You know those who have sought out not only freedom but prosperity in this amazing country called America Only country on the globe with dream is attached to its name and the reason that dream goes from Image to a reality is because of the people one of the most diverse places you can be is in America in general, but specifically a New York City of We celebrate of both in a substantive and I like to say in a symbolic way when you have a parade And you're able to march through the streets of showing your flag showing your pride We say in this country don't leave behind your heritage as you embrace your new Homeland cause America called America. That's our secret weapon the dash that fits between our names German-dash American Irish-dash American Italian African-dash American Caribbean-dash Americans You look at all the accumulation of all of our different cultures we produced a special product of How you could enjoy everything this country and this city has to offer and the parade is an Experience that really brings us all together as we line across the roadways See the pride walk through our streets and the celebration 66 years think about that 66 years of Showing German pride here in New York City, and I am just really proud to have you here and Gracie mansion I look forward to an amazing parade and participants and lifting up The leader of the parade, you know your experience what you have done for this city Not only as the fire commissioner but just your commitment and dedication as a firefighter and Showing how New York is really who we are because we made up of the best stuff on earth And that's the people that are in New York City. Thank you for allowing me to celebrate with you Thank you for coming using Gracie mansion, and we look forward to an exciting parade of this coming weekend Thank you so much So I'm going to present the proclamation To the German-American stupid stupid parade day in the committee whereas as I Am enormously proud to lead a city with more than 3.2 million Immigrant New Yorkers who enhance the future of our culture civic Economic life as the most diverse global city in the nation It is important that we champion our differences and continue to strengthen our great Metropolis I applaud these and all Associations in groups particularly this amazing German-American stupid parade committee. I applaud them for their contributions to the German-American Society here in New York and their efforts to ensure that our great global city remains a welcome home for all I Eric Adams mayor of the city of New York honorary German today in the celebration. Thank you very much We have a little token for you, too We have the book the drill master of Valley Forge Baron von Stoibann Now he took the general George Washington how to put a military together So I think you're gonna get some more information here, but you're a police ex-police officer PD so you really don't need the book but read it anyway, and then I also want to give you the German-American pin. Yes, you're an honorary German-American now Like every good German you gotta prostitutes it's like cheers, okay Suppressed Great So we want to do is we want to trust you in honor of general von Stoibann and the German-American heritage So thank you, mr. Mayor and Prost Why is my glass bigger than yours Your party And if you can make it