Let Freedom Ring

LET FREEDOM RING -- (Extensions of Remarks - September 08, 2004)

Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, today my colleague from the 3rd district of California, the Honorable DOUG OSE and I ask all our colleagues to join us in a special commemoration of the tragic events of September 11, 2001. On September 11, 2004, as part of the "Let Freedom Ring-Bells Across America" remembrance, participating churches across the nation will, beginning at noon, toll four bells at one-minute intervals to honor those who perished on the four hijacked commercial aircrafts on September 11, 2001. On the fifth minute, a chorus of bells will be played to recognize and pay tribute to the countless people whose lives were greatly affected by the events of 9/11. As the churches of the Sacramento Region join together to remember one of the most tragic days in our nation's history, we ask all our colleagues to join us in the "Let Freedom Ring-Bells Across America" remembrance.

The "Let Freedom Ring-Bells Across America" remembrance is the brainchild of Mr. Stu Varner, a resident of the Sacramento Region. Like millions of his fellow Americans, Mr. Varner was greatly affected by the catastrophic series of attacks that occurred at New York City, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Mr. Varner held a deep conviction that those who lost their lives on 9/11 should never be forgotten, and that they should be properly recognized as heroes. Mr. Varner believed that September 11 should be a day of somber and serious reflection much like Memorial Day and Veterans Day. As a result, Mr. Varner developed the idea of the "Let Freedom Ring-Bells Across America" remembrance. Mr. Varner wishes that the synchronistic ringing of bells by churches across America will help create a wave of remembrance for the thousands who lost their lives and the many more whose lives were drastically affected as a result of 9/11.

Mr. Speaker, as the churches of the Sacramento Region participate in the "Let Freedom Ring-Bells Across America" remembrance, my colleague Mr. DOUG OSE and I are honored to pay our respect and tribute to the innocent people whose lives were prematurely cut short or greatly altered by the 9/11 tragedy. We ask our colleagues to join us in remembering the tragic events of September 11, 2001 by participating in the "Let Freedom Ring-Bells Across America" remembrance.