David Thomas: “Yesterday was a very sad day. The sadness, of course, continues for those who were injured and the families of those who…”

“Yesterday was a very sad day. The sadness, of course, continues for those who were injured and the families of those who were lost. Acts of war have been committed against our Nation. Forces of evil have struck at the center of our Government, our families, and our communities. There are no words that can possibly explain the devastation or convey sufficient sympathy for the men and women who lost their lives, nor even do words exist to describe our collective anger. It is a somber day, but our sadness will lead to resolve. Powerful symbols of our democracy have been destroyed, but the root of our strength--our personal commitment to our country and our families--is even stronger. Our focus now must be on the victims, of course, and those who still face the challenge of life and rescue. America will take care of its own. Let me assure people today that the functions of Government will continue. As you can see, Congress is meeting and most Federal agencies in Washington are open and doing their jobs. There is no amount of terror that can be committed that will throw us off our course to protect and serve democracy today.”