We want to thank everyone as they and we observe Patriot Day and the National Day of Service and Remembrance.
Twenty-four years ago, the events of September 11, 2001, irrevocably changed America and the world. Today, we pause to remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost, and we honor them. We honor the resilience of a nation that, in its darkest hour, found light in the courage and compassion of its people.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars knows the weight of sacrifice. Our organization was born from the valor of those who served in foreign wars, but our purpose extends to every hero who has protected our country. On September 11, our nation lost a part of its innocence, but in that moment of fear and chaos, we found a strength we hadn’t seen since the attack on Pearl Harbor in World War Two.
The cowardly acts of terrorists took the lives of nearly 3,000 innocent men, women and children, and injured thousands more, all while sending a clear message that freedom has enemies.
But the tyrants made a fatal error that day. They misjudged the tenacity and determination of America’s people. The attacks of 9/11 were meant to weaken us, to divide us and to make us live in fear. Instead, the world witnessed the true spirit of America emerge from the smoking rubble, and a nation standing united and unwavering.
In the hours and weeks after the attack, we witnessed heroism in our city streets. We saw firefighters, police officers and paramedics run toward danger. We saw ordinary Americans risk everything to help their neighbors. They embodied the highest ideals of patriotism; not just a love of country, but a willingness to act on that love.
Eventually, the destroyed halls of the Pentagon were rebuilt, the scarred field in Somerset County grew green again with time and on the hallowed ground of Ground Zero, a new skyscraper rose, a monument to our nation’s resilience.
And because we remember that resilience, we will forever honor the memory of the men, women and children who perished that day. We honor the selfless courage of the firefighters, police and emergency personnel who ran toward danger without a second thought. Their heroic acts reminded us that patriotism isn’t just about love of country; it’s about a willingness to serve and sacrifice for your neighbors.
That spirit of service is our legacy. It has brought a fresh and harsh reminder that freedom must never be underappreciated; it is never free. The sacrifices made in places like Afghanistan and Iraq were a direct response to the evil that attacked us on 9/11. They were a testament to our nation’s commitment to stand strong against violence and to help ensure that others have the opportunity to live in freedom and peace.
Today, let us honor the fallen not just with words, but with a renewed commitment. Join the members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in vowing to serve our communities and our nation, doing more than we did the day before. Let us live lives worthy of the sacrifices of our fallen heroes and ensure that their memory lives on forever.