this bridge only took a few years. high speed rail may take 10 years. but we have to get off of if it does not happen tomorrow, i will not do it. we are connected to those who came before us and those who come after us. a bridge connects one side to another and we are connected today to our past and future. what a great day. it is golden gate bridge day, not just in san francisco, but in california. [applause] i am going to ask dennis mulligan about those free passes across the bridge for directors. governor brown, thank you for those aspirational, inspirational words, and for all of you have done for the great state of california. thank you very much. [applause] now i would like to recognize our other organizing partners for this anniversary celebration. first, our neighbor and great friend, the superintendent of the golden gate national parks, please give a warm welcome to mr. frank dean. [applause] thank you, janet. thank you, governor, for your remarks about public
it will be beautiful. or through the trail that will be developed, or through the bike ways that will be developed. thank you to all the people that are working on behalf of making connections to this bridge, with a bye bye, car, bus, trail. whatever where you want to get here. we want to come. our pledge on the 75th anniversary is to work with others. it is all about partnerships. to make connections and to integrate this great national park with this great national icon. so thank you very much. thank you, janet. [applause] think is so much and congratulations on all you have done in the presidio. that, too, is a great gift to san francisco and california. there is one partner who has been absolutely central to bridging assault, and that is the golden gate national parks conservancy. just over a year ago, think about this the bridge district, national park service, and conservancy formed a partnership to better serve the millions of visitors who come to this bridge eve
bridge. joseph strauss, charles ellis fantastic design and leadership. of course, i have been tried to remember the mayor at that time andrew rossi his leadership as well. when we completed this bridge, it was not without cost, so we have to take a moment for the fantastic efforts. we did lose a few lives in constructing this bridge, so i want to make sure that we honor that fantastic effort during that time. it was that symbol of prosperity, the beauty of our city that was being designed, and it has become and continues to be the symbol for our international world-class reputation for progress, grove, and continued innovation. i see this bridge has a symbol that is stronger than ever, being a bridge for everybody in the world, the gateway to the far east, as well as from them to the rest of our country. we are still the finest city in the world. international capital of the world. i want to continue that and will come thousands of visitors each year who come here to cel
to kick off our celebration today, it is only fitting that we are joined by so many special guests, the people, organizations, and public agencies that have been absolutely instrumental in helping us kick off this anniversary celebration. first, i would like to welcome the wonderful organizing partners of our 75th anniversary and all those representing those partners who have joined with us here today. we begin with the golden gate bridge highway transportation district board and staff. [applause] raise your hand, board members and staff. the golden gate national parks conservancy board, board associates, and staff. where are you? [applause] the national park service. [applause] the presidio trust board and staff. [applause] and the elected officials and the staff of the great city and county of san francisco. [applause] than today we want to welcome our corporate partners who have supported our anniversary with funding and communications support. we are especially grateful t
represented by mason thorton. [applause] to our building partner, chevron, represented by russ yaro. [applause] david miller. [applause] levi strauss and co., represented by jill nash. [applause] pg&e, represented today by tony early. [applause] who proposed to his beautiful wife on the golden gate bridge. a fantastic story. [applause] speeck products speck products, represented by their whole marketing team. [applause] thank you all so much. we would not be here without your brief and to support. please join me in expressing our gratitude to our media and promotion partners and this is quite a list. nbc bay area. [applause] san francisco chronicle, sf gate, kgo, knbr, kfso, san francisco magazine, san francisco travels, telemundo, and because it is the 21st century, twitter. and of course, we are grateful to our business and individual contributors, through our joseph strauss legacy circle. we welcome all of them here today. for the lead car predict we thank bank of amer