NYPD delivers touching tribute to Marines for 251st anniversary

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch joined throngs of people at police headquarters Friday to celebrate the Marine Corps’ upcoming 251st birthday, noting 600 Marines are among the city’s Finest.“When a New Yorker calls 911 … they’ll be getting help from someone who has already learned how to act when lives depend on it,” Tisch told the standing-room-only crowd at One Police Plaza in Manhattan, referring to the Marines on the force.“By the time you put on an NYPD uniform, this country already owed you a debt of gratitude,” she told them.“And you chose to keep serving.

As your commissioner, I’m grateful you chose to do it here.”Attendees at the gathering — an annual fete hosted by the NYPD Marine Corps Association to honor the armed force and maintain ties between it and retired and active-duty city cops — included Marine vets from World War II.This year’s keynote speaker and guest of honor was retired Sgt.Major Brad Kasal, who was awarded the Naval Cross in 2004 for his extraordinary bravery in saving the lives of several Marines despite being struck by a grenade and repeatedly shot in a firefight during the second battle of Fallujiah in Iraq.Kasal commented on the similarities between the Marines and the NYPD in his heartfelt speech, referencing the 2021 US evacuation from Kabul, Afghanistan, as well as the bombing at Abbey Gate there, where 13 US service members were killed.“They did that because that’s what Marines do,” he said of the deadly evacuation that the soldiers risking their lives to save others.

“And I’d argue it’s what NYPD officers do.“They put themselves in harm’s way because that’s their job: to serve and protect, for something greater than ourselves.”The retired sergeant also spoke of the motivation that drives people to enlist.“Why, when we work long hours, have to be away from family, have to put ourselves in harm’s way or risk taking a life — why do we do this?” he asked.“Well, somebody has ...