Seven years ago, a beautiful late-summer morning was suddenly transformed into one of unimaginable horror. We pause to remember those whose lives were taken on that terrible day. This solemn anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001, is dedicated to the deepest human emotions of loss, of sacrifice, and of resolve.
In Maine, we remember Robert and Jackie Norton of Lubec, a retired couple who boarded Flight 11 to celebrate a son’s wedding on the West Coast. We remember James Roux of Portland, an Army veteran and a devoted father, a passenger on Flight 175 on his way to a business meeting in California. We remember Robert Schlegel of Gray who was celebrating his recent promotion to the rank of Commander in the United States Navy, and settling into his new office at the Pentagon, believed to be the point of impact of Flight 77.
We remember each of the nearly 3,000 lives lost that day; lives of accomplishment, contribution, and promise. Each loss leaves a wound in the hearts of families and friends that can never be fully healed.
We are still moved by the selfless courage of men and women on Flight 93 who wrestled that plane to the ground, sacrificing their lives so that others might live. We are inspired by the firefighters and police officers at the World Trade Center who continued to climb upward to rescue fellow citizens even as the Twin Towers were coming down. We pay tribute to the first responders, the military personnel, and the civilians who rushed into the smoke and flames at the Pentagon to lead others to safety. We express our gratitude to those who have given so much to defend our nation against terrorism, the men and women of our armed forces.
September 11th was not just a day of personal tragedy. It was an attack on the United States, an attack on freedom, an attack on civilization. We must never forget what was lost, and what remains at stake. The fundamental obligation of government is to protect its people. Since September 11th, we have done much to meet that obligation.
The Department of Homeland Security was created to provide a unifying core to the enormous effort of detecting and preventing terrorist attacks, assessing and protecting our vulnerabilities, and improving our response to disasters of all types. Based on the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, the Senate Homeland Security Committee, which I chaired, brought about the most comprehensive reform of our intelligence community in more than a half century so that the trail of “dots” terrorists leave behind as they plan, train, and organize will never again be left unconnected. We have strengthened our borders, and increased protection of our seaports and vulnerable chemical facilities. We have provided vital equipment and training to our first responders.
We have taken many steps to secure our nation. None was easily taken. All were accompanied by controversy, conflict, and differences of opinion. Yet, when we worked together in a bipartisan manner, we achieved progress.
I am committed to continuing the progress that has made our nation safer. Following the deeply flawed response to Hurricane Katrina, the Senate Homeland Security Committee launched the most extensive investigation in its history and produced legislation that reorganized the Federal Emergency Management Agency to strengthen FEMA’s preparedness and response capabilities to meet the challenges of all aspects of emergency management. The value of this reorganization was evident during the vastly improved response to Hurricane Gustav.
The Senate Homeland Security Committee continues to address our nation’s security vulnerabilities. Recently we have investigated such dangers as nuclear terrorism and the rise of homegrown terrorism. We have also taken steps to better protect our homeland against improvised explosive devices and to secure our information technology networks. Legal protections have been enacted for alert citizens who, in good faith, report suspicious activity to authorized officials.
In 2004, as our Committee was developing our landmark Intelligence Reform legislation, we heard from a witness whose words have always stayed with me. The witness was Mary Fetchet, who lost her son, Brad, in the World Trade Center, and who went on to lead Voices of September 11th, a family support group. She testified, “When critical reforms are implemented to make our country safer, I’ll know that neither Brad’s life, nor the lives of nearly 3,000 others who perished on September 11th were lost in vain.” Her courage and determination inspired us all.
Seven short years ago, September 11th was transformed from a day like any other day into one that will stand alone. The loss we relive this day reminds us of the value of all that we must protect. The heroism reminds us of the unconquerable spirit of the American people. Our accomplishments remind us that we can meet any challenge with decisive action. As long as we keep the meaning of this day of remembrance in our hearts, we will meet the challenges that lie ahead.