Hoyer Statement on 25th Anniversary of 9/11
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement today commemorating the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001:
“September 11, 2001, was a day of tragedy and created a new sense of vulnerability. But it also was followed by a unity of purpose and conviction that the terrorists would not prevail.
“I will never forget standing on the steps of the U.S. Capitol that evening, rallying with colleagues, staff, and fellow citizens who had gathered to show our solidarity with those who had lost loved ones, who were still searching for the missing, and who were working to restore safety. Moved by that moment, we began to sing 'God Bless America,' and soon everyone was joining in. It was a powerful expression of our unity and resolve. It was, too, a reminder that we are, despite our differences and the often-heated rhetoric in our politics, one nation with a common purpose and a shared hope for peace, justice, and the triumph of good over evil.
“The magnitude of this tragedy created great unity. But as it fades from memory, the realization of that unity becomes more difficult to sustain. We must nevertheless strive to recapture it.
“Ground Zero, the west side of the Pentagon, and the hallowed field in Shanksville are now quiet places of peace. Today, bells will be rung, names will be read, and hymns will be sung. But nothing we do today can honor the dead and injured more than to carry on tomorrow, as we have now done for a quarter century, and continue the difficult task of building the America that terrorists tried in vain to dismantle. An America united. An America filled with optimism in devotion its purpose. An America of big hearts and open arms. An America guided by its highest ideals and committed to ensuring equal justice and opportunity for all.
“Let us rededicate ourselves to seeking that unity of purpose today. May the memory of those lost on September 11, 2001, inspire us to that work now and forever.”