[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 136 (Wednesday, September 14, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1633-E1634]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               RECOGNIZING THE YOUNG AMERICA'S FOUNDATION

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                          HON. TOM McCLINTOCK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 14, 2011

  Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, the attack against our nation ten years 
ago today was our generation's Pearl Harbor. Indeed, in many ways it 
was far more infamous. More Americans died on September 11th than in 
the attack on Pearl Harbor. It was an attack not upon some distant 
outpost but upon our nation's greatest city and our nation's capital 
city. It was an attack not upon heavily armed warships, but upon 
defenseless Americans peacefully going about their business.
  This atrocity set new records for its ruthlessness and barbarity and 
depravity. Benjamin Netanyahu called it a ``wake-up call from hell,'' 
and that's exactly what it was. It is appropriate, though, to note one 
constant that defines us as a people and that guarantees us that all 
will come right. I speak of something that can only be described as the 
Spirit of America.
  The attack on our nation ten years ago reminded us that the American 
spirit is still very much alive, and that this generation is more than 
capable of rising to great acts of heroism.
  The attack ten years ago produced a pantheon of heroes--Americans who 
had gone about their business one peaceful morning, and in a few brief 
moments found themselves facing well prepared, intractable and barbaric 
adversaries.
  At that fateful moment, they rose to the occasion. They resisted with 
everything they had. On December 7th, cooks became gunners and nurses 
passed the ammunition. On September 11th, office workers became rescue 
workers and businessmen laid down their cell phones and took up hand-
to-hand combat in the skies over Pennsylvania.
  Centuries from now, Americans will proudly remember the story of the 
young men and women aboard Flight 93 as it headed for our nation's 
Capitol: how they responded instantly to their country's peril -- and 
armed only with their bare hands stopped cold those who would destroy 
our nation. In his last words heard over his cell phone, Todd Beamer 
asked--not just of his fellow passengers, but of all of his fellow 
countrymen: ``Are you guys ready''? His answer on behalf of us all was, 
``Then let's roll.''
  The memory of firefighters and police officers rushing into the 
burning buildings as everyone else rushed out personified duty and 
honor for an entire generation.
  For those young people in our nation who were not alive to 
experience, or were too young to remember that day just over ten years 
ago, we have an obligation as a society to pass on our memories and the 
lessons we learned, purchased at the high price of innocent life and 
years of conflict.
  I rise today in recognition of the ongoing work of the Young 
America's Foundation to preserve our history for future generations.
  Each year Young America's Foundation helps students--many of whom 
comprise the ``9/11 generation''--to properly remember the anniversary 
of the September 11 terrorist attacks through their 9/11: Never Forget 
Project. Young America's Foundation began this program in 2003.

[[Page E1634]]

  Young America's Foundation works with students to establish American 
flag memorials--displays consisting of 2,977 American flags 
representing each person tragically killed in the terrorist attacks. 
This year, students at more than 280 schools erected such memorials on 
their school grounds. Students held campus-wide moments of silence or 
prayer on September 11, at 9:11 a.m., hosted patriotic speakers and 
first responders at their schools, and provided 9/11: Never Forget 
posters and other materials to distribute on the anniversary. Young 
America's Foundation is making sure that future generations understand 
the events of that horrific day, remember its victims and remember the 
many examples of courage, patriotism and dedication which have, and 
will continue to inspire so many.
  This tenth anniversary year is not just a time to memorialize the 
fallen--as important as that is. This upcoming September 11, we humbly 
celebrate America's endurance, strength, and goodness. In doing so, we 
will ensure that future generations will never forget.
  While we can erect grand edifices and give speeches about 9/11, it is 
this simple and poignant tribute in remembrance of those we have lost 
and all those who serve that speaks loudest across the years. It is my 
privilege to rise today and thank the Young America's Foundation for 
its ongoing service to our nation and our posterity.

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