Matheson Statement in Honor of 9-11 Anniversary

Statement

Congressman Jim Matheson issued the following statement:

"This anniversary is first, last and always a day of remembrance. All of us remember where we were on that morning when passenger jets became missiles, striking the twin towers of the World Trade Center. Two Utahns were aboard one of the hijacked planes that struck the first tower; another Utah died at his job in the Pentagon when a third jet crashed into it.

The passing days brought sorrow and heartache. Not all Americans lost family members during the terrorist attacks, yet it felt as though we did. The heroes of 9-11--members of the New York and Port Authority police departments and the NYC firefighters--quickly replaced the frightening images of the hijackers. From across this country, ordinary people put comfortable lives on hold in order to join the rescue and recovery effort. Later on thousands of men and women from all walks of life stepped forward, donned our country's uniform and took the fight to those who plotted against America. Terrorists tried to break America apart; instead, their actions brought Americans together.

Those attacks triggered American resilience. We worked hard to return to normal. As a nation, we made ourselves safer and more vigilant --at airports, on trains, on subways, at ports and in cyberspace. We strengthened intelligence and information sharing, we traced the money and shut down terrorist bank accounts, and we foiled al Qaeda. The heroes of Navy Seal Team Six killed the 9-11 mastermind--Osama bin Laden.

American courage and American values defeated the terrorists and remain the ultimate weapon in our fight for freedom and the enduring American dream."

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