Hoyer Delivers Remarks at National Fallen Firefighter Foundation Flag Presentation Ceremony
WASHINGTON, DC – As co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) delivered remarks today at a ceremony to present flags flown over the U.S. Capitol to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. The Foundation will present the flags to each family of the fallen firefighters being honored at their annual memorial service in Emmitsburg, Maryland on October 12, 2014 Below are his remarks as delivered:
"I've been involved with the [Congressional] Fire Services Caucus since shortly after [former Representative] Curt Welden, a former [fire] chief in Pennsylvania, started the Fire Services Caucus. It is the largest caucus in the Congress. It is the largest Caucus, as [Congressmen] Bill Pascrell, Peter King, and Dave Reichert will tell you, because we know that the fire service is such an integral part of every community in America.
"I want to say to Bill Webb, thank you for your leadership of the Institute. I want to say to my friend, Seth Statler, thank you for your service on the [National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Board of Directors]. And Ron Siarnicki, thank you for your leadership of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
"We look forward to welcoming and joining with the families who have lost loved ones in the service of their country, of their community, and of their neighbors and friends every year. We will be there in just a few weeks.
"This ceremony is about flags that have flown over the Capitol of the United States to honor those domestic defenders, who just as assuredly as those we deploy overseas, defend America and defend its people.
"Let me quote: ‘The flag of the United States has been created by the experience of a great people and nothing is written upon it that has not been written by their life. It is the embodiment, not of a sentiment, but of a history.' Those words were spoken by President Woodrow Wilson a century ago, but, of course, they remain true today. They are the life of a nation. How appropriate it is that those who protect the life of a nation are honored by these flags that will be taken to Emmitsburg and presented to the families as a small but meaningful token of our respect, our gratitude, and our empathy with their loss.
"Our flag, which begins a journey today to Emmitsburg to honor fallen fire service heroes, embodies the heroism and dedication of every American who has given his or her life in service to community and country.
"Tomorrow is September, 11. Thirteen years since we were struck. We presented three Congressional Gold Medals, the highest honor that the Congress can offer, to those who lost their lives at the World Trade Center, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. We believe that the plane that went down in Pennsylvania was headed to [the Capitol] dome to try to symbolically decapitate our democracy. They did not succeed because of brave citizens. At the World Trade Center it was men and women in blue – some on the fire department and some on the police department. Some working for federal and some working for city, who rushed in to save and secure and give sanctuary and direction to those who needed help.
"These flags, as President Woodrow Wilson said, represent the life of our nation, the principles of our nation, the gratitude of our nation for those who have served and paid the ultimate price for their willingness to be ready when the bell rings.
"May God bless them and God bless our country, as they did and as you do. Thank you."