[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 16568]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               ON REMEMBERING THE EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER 11

  (Mr. ACEVEDO-VILA asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. ACEVEDO-VILA. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of all Puerto Ricans, I want 
to express heartfelt sympathy for the families of the victims from the 
terrorist attacks against this great Nation 1 year ago. The impacts of 
these horrific events were immediately felt throughout Puerto Rico. 
Hundreds of Puerto Ricans were among the dead and Puerto Rican 
emergency crews were among the first to arrive to assist crews in New 
York and at the Pentagon. But had there been no direct tragic link to 
Puerto Rico through casualties or through the emergency workers, Puerto 
Ricans would nonetheless continue to walk in lockstep in the war 
against terror. Make no mistake about it, Puerto Ricans today, as 
throughout the last 100 years, serve dutifully in all the branches of 
our Armed Services. Our common citizenship and common devotion toward 
democratic principles underscore our commitment to common defense. I 
stand before my colleagues today to let you all know that Puerto Rico 
will always be there in this effort. The cowardly acts of September 11 
have caused great pain. Our suffering shall never be forgotten. But 
this Nation is today stronger and more committed to our principles of 
freedom and justice than ever before. United we stand, divided we fall. 
We stand together and will never, ever forget.

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