[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16942]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  COMMEMORATIVE JOINT MEETING OF THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES IN 
                                 REMEM-
    BERANCE OF THE VICTIMS AND HEROES OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, AND IN 
RECOGNITION OF THE COURAGE AND SPIRIT OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, FEDERAL 
             HALL, NEW YORK, NY, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2002

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. PHILIP M. CRANE

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 6, 2002

  Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in the 
House and Senate in commemorating the victims and heroes of September 
11, 2001, during our special session of Congress held in Federal Hall 
in New York, New York.
  On the days following the attacks on September 11th, Americans across 
the country came together to demonstrate the strength and resiliency of 
this great country. It is in that same spirit that we stand together 
today--both Republicans and Democrats--to reaffirm that strength and 
resiliency by showing a strong bipartisan expression that we are first 
and foremost Americans and are committed to protecting the freedoms and 
values that make this country great.
  As we go through this week and revisit some of the darkest moments in 
our nation's history, we must remember that our nation has always been 
one that has triumphed over adversity. At times of great despair, 
America has consistently risen to its greatest hours.
  In remembrance of those lives lost on September 11th and to heroes 
that emerged on that fateful day, I would like to close with some words 
from President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address:

       ``that from these honored dead we take increased devotion 
     to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of 
     devotion 
     . . . that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not 
     have died in vain . . . that this nation, under God, shall 
     have a new birth of freedom . . . and that government of the 
     people . . . by the people . . . for the people
     . . . shall not perish from the earth.''

  May God bless America.

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