Video, Audio, Photos & Rush Transcript: Governor Hochul Delivers Remarks at Emergency Medical Services Providers Memorial Dedication Ceremony

Earlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul delivered remarks at the Emergency Medical Services Providers Memorial Dedication Ceremony and honored eight Emergency Medical Services Providers who died while serving and protecting New Yorkers. The ceremony to honor the fallen EMS providers took place at the Empire State Plaza in Albany, in observance of EMS Week.

VIDEO of the event is available on YouTube here and in TV quality (h.264, mp4) format here.

AUDIO of the event is available here.

PHOTOS of the event are available on the Governor's Flickr page.

A rush transcript of the Governor's remarks is available below:

Good morning. I want to thank Chief Greenberg for your heartfelt message to all of us, which remind us of the individual sacrifice of the individuals you spoke of, but also echoing what the chaplain spoke about - a profound courage that evades most people because I look at people in the EMT service and know that there are some thousand but there are 20 million New Yorkers and those who answer the call, those who say, "I'm willing to do this, to have my life literally turned upside down, day in and day out." This is an elite group of people, but it's never about them individually. It is, yes, they're a special person, but those who are the parents, those who are the children, the spouses, whether it was by design in selecting a partner or just ending up with the mom and dad who are so selfless, you and your families are blessed to have had that connection.

And Eric, I am heartbroken to know you lost a mom and dad, and you are sitting here. This had to be the toughest day, other than the day you were here for your father a few years ago. And yet, what I see in you, and I see in all the other families, is saying, "I will show up today. I will get out of my bed even though this is the day I want to just put thosecovers back over my head and just stay in bed because this is too painful." It is ripping off the wounds that you thought might be starting to heal just a little bit. And yet you showed up. You're here. So, that courage from your loved one also applies to all of you for just being here to let us have a few moments to think about them and to remind us how we can be better people.

Why aren't there more people willing to do what your loved one did? How do we inspire the next generation to know that this is a moral responsibility that we all have as occupants of this planet to take care of each other? How many more ways can we find to do that? Because at the end of our time, we're not going to be judged by how many emails we respond to, or how many baseball games you went to, or how many hours you clocked in at the office, we're going to be judged by this simple question: did you make a difference in the lives of someone else?

And all your loved ones knocking on Heaven's Gate were able to answer, "Yes, I did, Lord. Yes, I did because I cared. I cared enough about my fellow human being to put my own life in danger, to run into harm's way, and while it may not always be a life-threatening situation, their very presence gave hope to other people.

I'll never forget when I was in local government, I was at a town board meeting, got the phone call. My seven-year-old was in a car accident, run over on a bicycle by a car. I showed up on the scene. Already, she was wrapped in the arms of the EMT First Responders. They took care of my little girl. They helped her. They helped the mother, who was just a wreck. And they may never know what that meant to me, but that was over 25 years ago. I won't forget that. So, to all of you who wonder, "Is it worth it?" The answer has to be yes. Yes, because you've touched thousands of lives, whether it's FDNY, Huntington, those who showed up from South Country and Greene, losing one of your leaders. You traveled here, you showed up. But these eight people left us a legacy that we all have to uphold in our different walks of life.

I, as Governor, will continue to support everything you do in our Budget and other ways I can just help lift up EMT - encourage more people to want part of this unique group of individuals. And because of that, more people will be able to sleep better at night knowing that no matter what happens, no matter what terrible things may come their way, or just a time when you need someone to take care of you and comfort you, there is someone in a uniform that's highly trained that is willing to sacrifice, who showed up to help you. But the ones who perhaps sacrificed the most because they didn't sign up for this, are the family members, and yet you're here today.

That to me, is the depth of love at its greatest. They say grief is the price you pay for love. That meant you had love, and the loss of the object of your love creates immense grief. But please take comfort in knowing that that love helps that person out there. That stable foundation of love at home allowed them to go out and in a selfless way, be there when strangers needed them. There's not a single word I'm going to say that is going to make it feel better. I know I can't, I don't have that ability.

But just as your Governor representing again, the 20 million people who sleep better at night, I am so grateful to you, grateful to the chaplains who give us comfort in our time of need, chaplain. To all of you, your colleagues, those who are going to go forth, get back in the trucks, go back into the stations, and just carry on. And to our elected leaders, you'll be hearing from shortly, now they also join with me in saying, "Who are we without them? Who's there to protect us? Who helps us if we don't get people to do exactly what your loved one did?" All I can say is thank you. Send my love, our gratitude, and the recognition that this has to be one of the toughest days of your life. But don't forget the fact that you showed up the ultimate act of love and the ultimate act of courage. May God bless every one of you and wrap you tight in His arms and give you some measure of comfort. Thank you.