Bill Pascrell: “today, all across this great land, we honor the memory of those who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist…”

“today, all across this great land, we honor the memory of those who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001. We honor those who were taken from us by cowardly murderers, the very worst of human kind, simply because we are a free people. This 1-year anniversary is indeed a day of deep reflection and remembrance. I am not sure if the American family will ever come to terms with the visions of our brothers and sisters, our sons, and daughters, our mothers and fathers, being victimized by the despicable acts perpetrated by the evil and the cowardly. But I am sure that our love of country, our love of each other, will help us continue to recover and respond. We remember and we mourn today. Those we lost will forever be in our hearts and minds. Our lives now are about making sure theirs were not lost in vain, about ensuring their values, their ideals, and their spirit always endure. We will also never forget what we saw in the immediate aftermath of the attacks. We saw--amid the carnage, amongst the destruction--the amazing heights of benevolence and decency and courage that mankind can offer. What we saw was America. Within moments of the first attacks, our first responders entered buildings without reservation in an attempt to save others--and they did so knowing full well that they themselves may never exit. Everyday Americans became extraordinary heroes to people they had never met before.…”