[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18978]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      SETPEMBER 11--ONE YEAR LATER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOEL HEFLEY

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 1, 2002

  Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, America will never be the same as a result 
of September 11, 2001. The horrific events of that day dramatically 
changed the landscape of not only New York City and Washington, D.C., 
but also the entire civilized world. The images of commercial airliners 
plunging into symbols of American enterprise, economy and security will 
forever be seared on our individual and national memories. But, also 
vivid are the images of Americans' spirit of community, gratitude and 
generosity that have been demonstrated these past twelve months.
  Through our heartache and sorrow, Americans joined together this year 
in an unprecedented show of strength and unity. The outpouring of 
patriotism and pride across the country is displaying itself in every 
conceivable way. The American flag is flying: large and small; cloth 
and paper; store-bought and handmade; the red, white and blue is 
everywhere. Americans opened their homes and wallets to care for the 
victims. Goods and services were donated to the victims and rescue 
workers at an almost unmanageable pace. Restaurants in New York and 
Washington opened their doors to feed the rescuers, people stood on 
street corners and handed food to passing firemen and companies donated 
pillows and blankets for weary workers.
  The morning after the attack, a column appeared in the Miami Herald 
that spread across the Internet because it captured the thoughts and 
feelings of our nation so aptly. In it, the columnist described the 
"vast and quarrelsome" American family, one "rent by racial, social, 
political and class division, but a family nonetheless." If the tragedy 
proved anything, it is that the American family is one that reaches out 
its hand to help another in need.
  The tragedy also redefined the American hero and turned ordinary 
people into extraordinary Americans. After the first assault on the 
World Trade Center, New York City firefighters and policemen rushed 
into the building and began saving lives--even as the buildings were 
collapsing. Yes, it was the job of firefighters to go into the 
buildings, but they could have reasoned that the buildings were going 
to collapse anyway, so why try. When the victims rushed out, they 
rushed in, and became heros in the process. Three hundred-forty three 
firefighters sacrificed their lives to save more than 25,000.
  Our nation has had a resurgence of faith and spirituality. The 
tragedy caused people to reevaluate their core values and cling to 
their traditions. In one day, everything that we thought was meaningful 
and important slid to the wayside and we rediscovered fundamental 
beliefs about faith, family and freedom. If the terrorists had hoped to 
break the American spirit, they failed spectacularly.
  We are now engaged in a war on terrorism and it is a war we will win. 
This is a struggle that concerns the whole of the democratic and 
civilized and free world. We will bring to account those responsible, 
and we will dismantle the apparatus of terror and eradicate the evil of 
mass terrorism in our world.
  The cause that we are fighting is just and it is decent. No citizen, 
in any country, should live in fear of senseless terrorist attacks. On 
September 11, 2002, thousands of American civilians gave their lives 
for a cause they did not know. An attack against civilian targets of 
women and children, mothers and fathers, peaceful and without 
prejudice, is beyond comprehension in our modem, civilized world.
  America responded to this crisis and emerged from the tragedy 
stronger and more determined. The course and duration of the conflict 
is unknown, but it's outcome is not. America will prevail and remain 
the greatest nation in the world.

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