Tom Udall: “A year has passed since 3,000 innocent men, women and children tragically lost their lives in a brutal and cowardly…”

“A year has passed since 3,000 innocent men, women and children tragically lost their lives in a brutal and cowardly attack on our country. While we have had a year to come to terms with the enormous tragedy of September 11, the sense of loss remains overwhelming. On that somber day, we all watched in disbelief as terrorists hijacked planes to attack buildings that symbolized our strength and power. We will never forget that day or the people whose lives were unexpectedly taken from them. New Mexico's families felt the pain of losing friends and loved ones. No one who knew Alamogordo's Alfred Marchand can ever forget this man who proudly served his community in the Alamogordo Department of Public Safety. After a stellar 21-year career, he followed his heart and became a flight attendant. While living his dream, he perished on United Airlines Flight 175 fighting against the terrorists. We must also remember Senior Airman Jason Cunningham, who grew up in Carlsbad. Jason died on a mission in Afghanistan while trying to save another serviceman. Albuquerque's Sgt. First Class Christopher James Speer also died in an Afghanistan firefight with suspected terrorists. He made the absolute sacrifice to protect us from terror. Remembering the 3,000 lives taken from us reminds us that, though we continue to move forward with our own lives, we do so in a world that has been profoundly affected by the events of September 11.”