Lee Zeldin: “I thank my colleague for her leadership and all of my New York colleagues for being here today. Mike Long was such a…”

“I thank my colleague for her leadership and all of my New York colleagues for being here today. Mike Long was such a special, principled, faithful patriot. He loved his family. He loved his country. He was willing to lay down his life for it at any time, valuing our Constitution and our freedoms. Our State is better off because Mike Long lived this legendary life of service. Jerry Kassar, the new New York State Conservative Party chair, has these really big shoes to try to fill. For all of us collectively, trying to figure out how to fill these shoes will be a challenge for us, but we accept that challenge with Mike's spirit and fight, his inspiration always living within each and every one of us. He was rock solid to his core, a genuine, great American. To his entire family--obviously, his wife of nearly 60 years, Eileen, but they also have nine children, 24 grandchildren, and five great- grandchildren. Everybody who knew and loved Mike Long is mourning the passing of a truly great public servant. May Mike Long rest in peace. I thank him for his friendship, guidance, and service. Now, it is left to the rest of us to carry on what was a legendary, inspirational contribution to the greatest country in the history of the world because of great marines and patriots like him. May he rest in peace.”