Words from Washington: Remembering September 11th
Statement
Words from Washington: Remembering September 11th
That Tuesday morning in September dawned with little indication of the place in history the fateful day would soon occupy. In my first year as a Congressman, I was becoming familiar with the places, faces and names that filled my time in Washington. It was an Indian Summer type of day. The calendar reminded us that school was back in session, but the weather beckoned back to the freedom of an August morning.
I was on the Hill for a meeting in the basement of the Capitol. Making my way through the maze of underground passages that still required some degree of concentration to successfully navigate, I arrived at my Longworth offices to find the staff glued to the office television. A plane . . . no, two planes had crashed into the towers of the World Trade Center. One errant jet could have been a horrible accident. Two such occurrences were an unlikely coincidence.
Events unfolded quickly, but took on an even greater sense of urgency when a third airliner dove into the Pentagon. As if the images on the screen were not sufficient, we could look out of our office window and see the thick plume of black smoke rising in the distance. The next few hours were a blur of hastily planned movements. The Washington staff assembled in nearby Virginia. As Congress, we were told to vacate The Hill and I went to an "undisclosed location." Phone lines were hopelessly jammed. Blackberries rose to new importance. Family and friends clamored for news. The District offices attempted to assure panicked callers that matters were under control. Everyone had more questions than answers.
Later that day, the President addressed the nation, explaining the facts that were available. Members of Congress assembled on the Capitol steps in a symbolic gesture of unity culminating in that unplanned singing of "God Bless America." Tuesday, September 11, 2001 was a day that not only changed the United States of America, it changed the world.
Five years later, we are left with the memories of the horrific events of that day. As painful as they are, we are obligated not to allow those images to fade into obscurity. The complacency that comes with such dimmed recollection is our greatest enemy. We cannot live our lives in fear, but we must remain vigilant to the potential danger that threatens our way of life.
The Islamic extremists have not focused their sick campaign solely on our country. Their cowardly acts of terrorism have cost innocent lives throughout the world. The fact that they have not successfully launched another attack on our soil should not be construed as a cessation of hostilities. The most recently discovered plot in Great Britain is indicative of the ongoing threat. I cannot put it more emphatically - we are engaged in a Global War On Terrorism.
The impact of that war is felt in so many facets of our daily lives. The abundance of reasonably priced consumer goods can be diminished by disruption of our ports. The energy to cool and heat our homes and to power our vehicles can be manipulated by politically unstable governments. The ease in which we travel the globe can be halted with a single terrorist plot. The potential for any of these actions is the impetus for all Americans to recognize the need to fight this war on foreign soil - otherwise we will be fighting it here at home. The shocking memories of that September day must serve as a reminder of the potential for disaster that is fostered by these misguided zealots.
As we observe the fifth anniversary of September 11th, we should remember those Americans who perished that day, and those first responders that work tirelessly to protect us. We should also honor our Armed Forces that are waging this War on Terror. Let us also renew our commitment to freedom and the values that make our country so great. "God Bless America, My Home Sweet Home!"
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