[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19957]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         INTRODUCTION OF THE PENTAGON 9/11 MEMORIAL RESOLUTION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 8, 2005

  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to be joined 
by my colleagues from Virginia, Maryland, D.C., Pennsylvania, New York 
and New Jersey to introduce legislation recognizing the importance of a 
national memorial at the Pentagon to commemorate and mourn the 
terrorist attack against the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.
  This legislation is modeled after a resolution (H. Res. 175) my 
friend and colleague from New York introduced earlier this year in 
support of efforts to create a September 11, 2001 memorial at the site 
of World Trade Center.
  Mr. Speaker, as we approach the 4th anniversary of the terrorist 
attacks of September 11, 2001, it is appropriate that we establish 
memorials at the sites of these attacks to honor the victims.
  On that fateful day four years ago, the 59 victims of American 
Airlines Flight 77 and 125 military personnel and Defense Department 
employees at the Pentagon died and scores more were injured in a 
dastardly and unprovoked attack against the American people.
  The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, have joined the pantheon 
of national tragedies and become a defining moment in United States 
history.
  These attacks of September 11, 2001 affected all Americans, not only 
for the tragic loss of life, but also for its emotional toll on our 
public conscience. Two-thirds of Americans report that the attacks had 
a great emotional impact on them, and virtually all Americans can 
recall precisely where they were and what they were doing when they 
learned of the attacks.
  And while all of us were beset by the tragic loss of life and untold 
suffering, we found solace in the inspiring and heroic actions taken by 
the crew and passengers of Flight 93 and by the firefighters, police 
officers, rescue workers, military personnel and ordinary citizens who 
raced to the scene of these attacks and saved lives, keeping the 
attacks from taking an even greater toll.
  It was a tragic day, but a defining moment in our nation's history.
  I applaud the efforts of those who have worked to build the memorials 
to honor and commemorate the fallen and to acknowledge the impact the 
horrific attacks have had on all of us.
  I encourage my colleagues and those listening to support these 
memorials and urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

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