Sam Johnson Statement on 17th Anniversary of 9/11

Statement

On the 17th Anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (TX-03) released the following statement:

September 11th is a day Americans have said they will never forget. That is true. 17 years later, we still remember the 2,977 victims at the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and on Flight 93. And we remember the heroic deeds of our first responders.

But I also remember the patriotism that rose out of the devastation. And it saddens me to see that our country seems to have forgotten the sense of unity we all felt.

I encourage folks to really think about that day -- where you were, who you were with, and what brought you comfort.

Many folks don't know that I was at the Pentagon on September 11th. By the grace of God, I wasn't on the side of impact -- though I should have been. The terrorists missed where we were meeting and deviated from their target.

Two things brought me comfort that terrible day. One was my faith in God. The second was the sight of our flag being lifted from the rubble. It was a symbol of America's strength and resolve to uphold Freedom -- no matter the cost.

So today, let us honor the memory of all victims of terrorism through unified actions.

…Let us be proud to live in a country that celebrates and protects individual freedom. Freedom is not enjoyed by everyone in the world, and we should not take ours for granted.

…Let us do everything we can to prevent future attacks on our homeland and our fellow citizens by remaining vigilant.

…And let us support our servicemen and women who continue to fight against the ever-present threat of terrorism.

We lost thousands of lives in the attacks 17 years ago. But we are in charge of whether or not we lose our country's unity, too. Patriotism transcends politics.

To all the families and friends who lost loved ones on 9/11 -- our hearts remain with you.

God bless you, and God bless America. I salute you

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