Jim Ramstad: “I rise to pay tribute to the fallen American heroes on United Flight 93, heroes like Tom Burnett, Jr., from Minnesota…”

“I rise to pay tribute to the fallen American heroes on United Flight 93, heroes like Tom Burnett, Jr., from Minnesota, who put country ahead of self on September 11, 2001, as he made the ultimate sacrifice. Mr. Speaker, as we all know, Tom Burnett and the other brave American heroes that day overpowered the terrorist hijackers who sought to crash Flight 93 into the United States Capitol. America owes all the brave passengers on Flight 93 a deep debt of gratitude for the remarkable bravery. And, Mr. Speaker, those of us who work here in this building, in this Capitol, literally owe our lives to the heroes of United Flight 93. This week, as family members of the 33 passengers and seven crew of Flight 93 have been here on Capitol Hill, it is time to say ``yes'' to funding the Flight 93 National Memorial plan for the site in Pennsylvania where the plane ultimately crashed. Tom Burnett and the other brave passengers deserve this fitting memorial, and we should move ahead with the project immediately so the land can be secured. Mr. Speaker, I have been in frequent contact with Tom Burnett's parents, Tom, Sr., and Beverly Burnett, about the site and about the memorial. They have long expressed concern that this sacred ground was still in jeopardy of purchase by other parties and not properly protected. On that fateful day, on his last phone call to his wife, Deena, Tom Burnett said, and I am quoting, ``We have got to do something. I know we are all going to die.…”