September 11...
Nothing about furniture or woodworking today...
This day is likely to be filled with images of somber faces remembering where they were, who they lost and what was taken from them. A physical monument will open at the site of the World Trade Center with nearly 3000 names inscribed on the fountain walls of those whose lives were lost to the cowardly attack. What remains is for us to truly memorialize their sacrifice, not just with lofty speeches, but with our deeds and who we become as a nation.
What angers me every year during this time is the parade of politicians who line up to lay claim to the memory, sacrifice and grief of that day's loss for their own political purposes. This day does not belong to a politician. The site, the memory, the tragedy, and the grief don't belong to a reelection campaign, or a political party. So, when the orators' speeches turn to first-person accomplishments at the memorial dedication, I ask you all to remember that the real accomplishments were made by those whose names are on the monuments around these two pools and on another sacrifice in a field in Pennsylvania.
Please join me in taking a moment to remember two special groups of people that make me feel good to be alive, make me proud to be American, and give me hope for our way of life...
The 343 brave souls of the FDNY that gave their lives in the World Trade Center towers, many reaching as high as the 78th floor, performing their jobs and putting out fires as they sought to reach and rescue as many people in the towers as they could.
The heroic passengers and crew of Flight 93 who chose to fight back and stand proud, giving their own lives rather than let terrorism gain another victory on that terrible day should be an inspiration to us all.
They are patriots in this country's truest, most historical sense...
This day will come and go for most of us. The families of these heroes, those who lost more than just a sense of infallibility will relive some of the pain of that day ten years ago. Let's do them the honor of spending a few moments remembering what they gave up for us.
Nothing about furniture or woodworking today...
This day is likely to be filled with images of somber faces remembering where they were, who they lost and what was taken from them. A physical monument will open at the site of the World Trade Center with nearly 3000 names inscribed on the fountain walls of those whose lives were lost to the cowardly attack. What remains is for us to truly memorialize their sacrifice, not just with lofty speeches, but with our deeds and who we become as a nation.
What angers me every year during this time is the parade of politicians who line up to lay claim to the memory, sacrifice and grief of that day's loss for their own political purposes. This day does not belong to a politician. The site, the memory, the tragedy, and the grief don't belong to a reelection campaign, or a political party. So, when the orators' speeches turn to first-person accomplishments at the memorial dedication, I ask you all to remember that the real accomplishments were made by those whose names are on the monuments around these two pools and on another sacrifice in a field in Pennsylvania.Please join me in taking a moment to remember two special groups of people that make me feel good to be alive, make me proud to be American, and give me hope for our way of life...
The 343 brave souls of the FDNY that gave their lives in the World Trade Center towers, many reaching as high as the 78th floor, performing their jobs and putting out fires as they sought to reach and rescue as many people in the towers as they could.
We have come to dedicate...a final resting place for those who died here, that the nation might live. This we may, in all propriety do. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow, this ground -- The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have hallowed it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here; while it can never forget what they did here.
It is rather for us, the living, we here be dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that, from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here, gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve these dead shall not have died in vain;
Abraham Lincoln
The heroic passengers and crew of Flight 93 who chose to fight back and stand proud, giving their own lives rather than let terrorism gain another victory on that terrible day should be an inspiration to us all.
They are patriots in this country's truest, most historical sense...
The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.
Thomas Paine
This day will come and go for most of us. The families of these heroes, those who lost more than just a sense of infallibility will relive some of the pain of that day ten years ago. Let's do them the honor of spending a few moments remembering what they gave up for us.
