[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 133 (Friday, September 9, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1578]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                      THOUGHTS ON 9/11 REMEMBRANCE

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                        HON. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 9, 2011

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, this Sunday marks the 10th anniversary 
of the September 11th attacks. I would like to take a moment to 
recognize Florida International University's series of events in 
remembrance of 
9/11 and share my thoughts on the events that unraveled that fateful 
September morning.
  It has been 10 years since the horror of 
9/11, a day that will be forever ingrained in our memories. On that 
day, America came face to face with an evil the likes of which our 
shores had never before witnessed. This unconscionable terrorist 
attack--this barbaric and cowardly act of 19 men--declared war not only 
on America, but on freedom itself. Nearly 3,000 innocent victims--of 
all races, religions and ethnicities--lost their lives that morning. 
Millions more suffered in anguish as the news of the events quickly 
unfolded on our television sets and radios worldwide.
  We were left asking the questions: Why and who? Why would anyone 
purposefully and mercilessly attack innocent civilians? Who could be so 
nefarious? In the succeeding years, we received the answers to our 
questions. We have identified our enemy and we have brought many of 
them to justice. Though our enemy has been weakened, we must remain 
steadfast in our resolve and vigilance to ensure that an attack like 
this will never again be brought upon our citizens. This is the debt we 
owe to those who perished on September 11th and to all of their loved 
ones.
  For many of us, the memories of that day remain vivid--and wounds 
remain fresh--yet we gather here today to pay tribute not only to those 
innocent victims who lost their lives, but to those who gave their 
lives so that others may live. We gather here to remind the world of 
the courage and strength of our citizens. We gather here, united, to 
remind our enemies that our resolve will not waver; our spirit will 
never diminish. We gather today to honor the memories of every man and 
woman lost, and to give them our solemn promise that we will never 
forget; we will never rest until their lasting memorial is a world of 
peaceful coexistence.

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