Washington, DC - Mr. Speaker, on Monday, this nation took time to remember the events of five years earlier on September 11, 2001 – events that changed the way we viewed the world and our own nation.  Our prayers are with the families of those that lost their lives that day.  We never imagined that something like that could happen on American soil and it is still hard to comprehend the number of innocent lives lost that day.

 

The five year anniversary brought back memories of planes crashing into the World Trade Center Building, the Pentagon, and Flight 93 going down in Pennsylvania, but more importantly, we remembered the images of the brave Americans – fire fighters, law enforcement, medical personnel, and everyday citizens – that rushed to help their fellow Americans that were injured or trapped in the rubble of the fallen buildings.

 

The courage these individuals showed is the reason the terrorists were not successful in weakening our nation.  They took innocent American lives and destroyed our buildings that day, but they did not destroy our nation’s resolve because American’s will always answer the call and the first responders that day did so selflessly in an environment of chaos and uncertainty. 

 

Over the past five years we have seen this country grow stronger in the face of the new threat that became apparent that day.  As citizens we are more vigilant and as a nation we have committed to a new war to fight terrorism across the globe. 

 

The attacks in Spain, Jordan, Britain and elsewhere since 9/11 demonstrate that we are not alone in this fight and that we have not deterred the terrorists’ intentions or will to carry out attacks against innocent people.  We will continue to hunt down terrorists and terrorist cells where they are and we will lead the world in defeating their ideology.

 

We all have different ideas about how to do this.  Over the past five years, we have seen heated debates in this House, throughout our government, and across the nation over how to best protect our country, secure our borders, patrol our ports, and carry out the war against these extremists while protecting the American way of life and our individual liberties.  But this tragedy reminded us that we are all Americans first and foremost.  We may not always agree on how best to do this, but the goal of every person here is the same: to succeed in protecting our country, our way of life, and preventing another 9/11. 

 

No one will forget where they were, or what they were doing when they learned of the attacks.  This anniversary marks one of the gravest days in our nation’s history, but it also reminds us of the bravery displayed by those that reacted to the tragedy with unwavering courage and heroism. 

 

Mr. Speaker, September 11, 2001 is five years behind us, but it will guide us for the foreseeable future.  I pray for the families that lost loved ones that day and I thank those that served bravely.  God be with those that are not here because of 9/11 and God bless America.

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