[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 21851]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     REMEMBERING THE VICTIMS OF THE SEPTEMBER 11 TERRORIST ATTACKS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on the second anniversary of 
the September 11 terrorist attacks of 2001 to express my sympathies for 
the victims of this terrible tragedy and their families.
  Furthermore, I would like to take this time to honor our men and 
women in the armed services who risk their lives on a daily basis in 
Afghanistan, Iraq, and throughout the world to ensure security and 
freedom both at home and abroad.
  The people of Guam continue to mourn the senseless loss of innocent 
lives that occurred 2 years ago. Although, Mr. Speaker, Guam is 
situated many miles west of New York City and Washington, D.C. and 
Pennsylvania, Guamanians find themselves engrossed in the sense of 
shock and sadness that all Americans felt. The people of Guam reflected 
on the magnitude of what had transpired and searched for a means by 
which they could express their solidarity with the people of New York 
and Washington and Pennsylvania.
  One such individual, Mr. Speaker, by the name of Sergeant Christopher 
Quitugua of Yona, Guam, contacted my office and asked me to display a 
Guam flag that he has carried with him while on active duty in Egypt, 
Kosovo, Kuwait, and now Afghanistan. He wanted this flag to honor the 
men and women who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks on 
September 11, 2001, and the commitment of the people of Guam to protect 
and defend our Nation.
  Accompanying the flag is a certificate which reads as follows: ``This 
Guam flag is dedicated to the people of Guam. It was flown on a combat 
mission in an AH-64A Apache attack helicopter from Bagram Airfield, 
Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. This flag was 
flown in honor of the men and women who lost their lives during the 
terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.''
  In addition, this certificate was signed by the pilot, Steve Odom, 
and the co-pilot, John J. Blank, Jr.
  On this day that we remember the terrible tragedies of September 11, 
2001, let us not forget the families that have lost their loved ones 
and reconfirm our commitment as a Nation to comfort and help all those 
who have suffered.
  Also, let us remember our men and women in uniform, such as Sergeant 
Quitugua, who bravely defended our Nation and continued to fight, to 
ensure that what occurred 2 years ago never, ever happens again.
  God bless our people and God bless our Nation, the United States of 
America.

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