[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 124 (Thursday, September 26, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1659]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1659]]
             WE ARE “GREAT BECAUSE WE ARE GOOD”

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ZACH WAMP

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 25, 2002

  Mr. WAMP. Mr. Speaker, as we observe the remembrance of September 
11th, it is my hope that the citizens of the United States will honor 
the legacy of those who lost their lives and pay tribute to their 
survivors in time honored American ways . . . like 
helping others in need, saying a kind word to a stranger, volunteering 
at a homeless shelter or sending relief to people around the world who 
we may never even meet. After all, our country is not great because of 
our military strength, our free enterprise system or even our right to 
vote (as awesome as these qualities are!). America is great as we give 
more than we take and as we are willing to serve and sacrifice for 
others.
  We now know countless stories of heroism and remarkable 
bravery—passengers on flight 93 that had the courage to stand up 
to terrorists giving their lives to protect hundreds of others, a 
Lieutenant Colonial who died trying to get his co-workers to safety or 
a firefighter who ran up the stairs of a building that was coming down 
on top of him. Although they didn't sign up to fight in the trenches of 
the War on Terrorism, fire fighters, EMT's, law enforcement officers, 
medical professionals and even airline passengers were willing to lay 
down their lives for people they had never even met.
  The sacrifice and courage of our first responders on September 11th 
caused a swell of pride in all Americans, of every generation. What we 
witnessed when America came under attack was comparable to the noble 
actions of the “Greatest Generation” veterans on D-day when 
they stormed the beaches of Normandy or in the lonely courage of 
American heroes in the jungles of Vietnam.
  The United States of America is at her best not when the Dow Jones 
average is above 10,000 points, or when we land on the moon, but when 
our citizens are willing to sacrifice themselves so that others might 
be secure.
  I participated in a historic joint-session of Congress at Federal 
Hall in New York City, laid a wreath at Ground Zero and spoke at a 
memorial service in a Brooklyn church. On Wednesday, September 11th I 
attended the National Memorial Service at the Pentagon with President 
George W. Bush and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. That evening I 
listened with the rest of the world to President Bush speak about this 
past year and America's security in an unstable world.
  As we bow our heads in respect, let us all be committed to honoring 
our country and those that have gone before us by giving of ourselves 
to help others. After all, every day of life is a gift from God and 
none of us know which might be our last. Let us stay united and make 
the most of every day!

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