Speeches

Ambassador Frank Lavin's July 4th Remarks

July 4, 2005

Minister Balakrishnan, Minister of State Zainul, Members of Parliament, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, distinguished guests, it gives me great pleasure to welcome everyone to our country’s 229th independence celebration. We are especially grateful our friends from Singapore are able to share the day with us.

Americans know the 4th of July as a day for family, food, fun, and fireworks -- all blessings we sometimes take for granted. So we pause to reflect on this day of celebration that “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” are cherished rights that must be earned and defended by each generation. In the midst of World War II, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt reminded our troops that our Nation believes in the "right to liberty under God -- for all peoples and races and groups and nations, everywhere in the world." On this Fourth of July, we especially honor the brave men and women of our military, and their families, and we express our gratitude for their courage, dedication to duty, and love of country.

We are grateful for their sacrifices and we are grateful we enjoy the friendship of Singapore. I wish a happy fourth and God’s blessings to us all.

Ladies and Gentlemen, New York City is a city of superlatives - it embraces the most energetic and electrifying, the fastest and the largest and the tallest, the trendiest, the coolest, the chicest - the best.

New York is the financial capital of the world, the communications capital of the world, the museum capital of the world and the theatre capital of the world.

But most important, New York City is a universal city, a world city. No matter where you come from on this planet, no matter what your background or your personal story, you can go to New York City and feel at home. We welcome all races, religions, cultures, and languages. Here’s the most important superlative: New York City is Hometown to the world.

In that spirit, it is my very great privilege to welcome the New York City Olympic delegation led by New York’s great Mayor, Hizzoner Mike Bloomberg.