[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17187]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 17187]]

         IN OUR DARKEST HOUR, AMERICA STANDS UNITED AND STRONG

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. TONY P. HALL

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 14, 2001

  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, like my constituents in the Dayton, 
Ohio, area, and all Americans, I am shocked and horrified by the brutal 
terrorist attack on our Nation on September 11. I am saddened for the 
victims and their families.
  It was an act of pure evil. And yet even this evil is not so great 
that it consumes the good which still abounds in our great Nation.
  Carl Sandburg wrote, ``I see America, not in the setting sun of a 
black night of despair ahead of us. I see America in the crimson light 
of a rising sun fresh from the burning, creative hand of God. I see 
great days ahead, great days possible to men and women of will and 
vision.''
  I am profoundly moved by the spirit of the American people who have 
responded to the crises with a generosity almost unimaginable. I am 
uplifted by the mood among members of Congress who have abandoned all 
partisan differences to pass critical legislation. I am deeply proud to 
see how our leaders are working together around the clock.
  In my district, citizens are calling me to ask if they can give money 
back to the government to assist with an antiterrorist campaign. A 
company in the Dayton area which manufactures protective equipment for 
firefighters is donating boots, gloves, and masks to the New York fire 
department. High schools in my community set up collection barrels at 
the football games for people to give food and equipment for the rescue 
effort.
  At this darkest hour, all of America is acting as one in a way I've 
never seen before. In our unity, we are strong--strong enough to 
rebuild from this attack and strong enough to overcome the terrorists 
behind it--and to emerge stronger than before.
  In one of his fireside chats in 1940, just before America entered 
World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt said, ``We defend and we 
build a way of life, not for America alone, but for all mankind.''
  Once again, Americans are called to defend themselves and 
civilization itself. I am proud to say that we are up to that 
challenge.

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