Today, we take time to honor those who were injured or lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attack on September 11th, 2001.
While over 3,000 innocent men, women, and children lost their lives during the attacks on the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and on Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, hundreds of thousands more Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, and faithful Civilians have answered our Nation’s call and defended our freedom in military operations over the last 17 years.
While these military operations have been costly in both blood and treasure, we have proven to be a resilient Nation and a resilient military. It can be seen by the way we mark this day in our history…a day of remembrance and service, and not a day of mourning.
So, today we say thank you…
Thank you to all of the first responders who lost their lives saving others. We share a national debt to all of them and their families for exhibiting steadfast courage in such extraordinary circumstances.
Thank you to those who served before 9/11, who trained and mentored our military members to answer the call on that fateful day. Your bold leadership prepared America’s Sword and Shield and inspired us with the confidence and conviction that we would prevail.
We say thank you to those that displayed incredible courage during the attacks of 9/11. Your bravery and perseverance assured our Nation and the world that the terrorists would be brought to justice.
We say thank you to those who showed great courage and selflessness by joining our ranks after 9/11. Knowing that they were joining a military that was at war, and that they would surely be put into harm’s way.
We say thank you to our friends, family, and wonderful communities who have faithfully supported all of us. For we could not do what we do without your love and encouragement.
Lastly, we say thank you to our brothers and sisters in arms who paid the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives to ensure that tyranny and evil would not prevail in the days, weeks, months, and years since 9/11. May we keep them and their loved ones close in our thoughts and prayers.
Thank you all for helping us remember this day in our history.
May God bless all of you and the United States of America.