9/11 remembered in Stafford- 2024

it has been 23 years have passed since the morning of September 11th 2001 a day that forever that has forever changed our nation and our area it is a day forever etched into our Collective memory when we witnessed Unthinkable acts of Terror and also extraordinary acts of courage on that fatal day 2,977 innocent lives were taken from us ordinary people going about their daily routines whose lives were cut short by senseless act of hatred their loss is still felt deeply by their families communities and all of us as a nation all of us are forever changed by the attacks on September the 11th 2001 it's a date that evokes memories of a moment in our history when the World As We Knew It changed forever though more than two decades have passed the memory the memories of innocent lives lost in the act of heroism on that day it still resonates deep in us and on that clear September morning we remember it our nation faced the unthinkable Act of terrorism the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center they were struck by hijacked airplanes our Pentagon was attacked in Flight 93 that was brought down by those Brave passengers who just refused they refused to reach to allow to reach his intended target nearly 3,000 innocent people were taken that day and countless others were impacted by the aftermath we honor their memory today as we have ever since then to ensure that they are never forgotten the images of that day remain Vivid in our minds the planes striking the Twin Towers the smoke Rising from the Pentagon and the wreckage of Flight 93 in a Pennsylvania field but just as seared into our memory are the images of heroism and selflessness First Responders firefighters police officers EMTs rushed toward danger without hesitation knowing full well the risk that they faced in the wreckage of the Twin Towers at the Pentagon and in the skies above Pennsylvania ordinary men and women became Heroes we remember the 343 firefighters 23 New York City police officers 37 Port Authority officers and 55 military personnel who gave their lives in service to others that day they showed us the very best of what it means to be human the courage to act in the face of unimaginable danger and the willingness to sacrifice for the sake of others as we reflect on that day let us remember what we learned about ourselves and how we responded in the face of this horrible tragedy we witness the best of America emerge First Responders they rushed in towards danger putting their lives on the line to save others and Ordinary People they were just thrusted into extraordinary circumstances and they showed remarkable bravery just amazing bravery in the face of this overwhelming destruction and in the wake of such horror the strength and resilience of our nation is shine brightly and in the face of Terror we we united we came together we United proving that no Act of evil could destroy our shared resolve today we honor the memory of those we lost and we reflect on our nation's resilience in the aftermath of 9/11 the American Spirit demonstrated its strength as communities came together strangers comforted one another and people from all walks of life stood United in grief and determination to rebuild recover and move forward this Spirit of unity reminds us of what we are all capable of when we stand together we must carry this strength and unity with us every day and as we honor the memory of those who died please let us remember the families that were left behind and we must also pay tribute to the brave men and women of our military who served in the war and Terror including more than 7,000 US soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice as we reflect on the lives lost and the grief that remains let us find the strength in unity and resilience that arose from that dark day and let the legacy of this day be one of Hope and unity and commitment to a brighter future for generations to come and may we continue to pray for God's blessings and protection not just over our country but over our communities as we reflect on the events of 9/11 let us also recognize the ongoing sacrifices of those who continue to protect and serve our nation our military personnel our First Responders our law enforcement officers and countless others work tirelessly to ensure we remain safe and secure to them we owe a debt of gratitude that that can never be fully repaid their dedication and bravery are a testament to the enduring Spirit of service that defines America today let us remember that while the pain of loss remains so does the strength we have found in each other the families who lost loved ones on 9/11 remain in our hearts and our prayers in the past firefighters began their tour of Duty the Bell signals the start of the day shift throughout the day and night Bells were used to Signal firefighters to a fire after the fire the Bell signaled that their Duty was complete and that they had safely returned to the Firehouse when a firefighter died in service to their Community it was the mournful toll of the Bell that announced their passing as a sign of honor and respect such symbolism is a time honored tradition and is repeated today at funeral services of Fallen firefighters in tribute to their life and courage present it arms [Music] we honor their loved ones by living our lives with the same courage kindness and resilience that they showed on that day together we can continue to honor those we lost by striving for a future defined not by fear but by hope compassion and a shared commitment to the values that make us who we are