As the Chairman of the Georgetown Board of Selectmen and a Veteran, I was asked to say a few words at our 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony. It's hard to believe it's been 25 years. My prepared remarks are below. I wrote them in a conversational style, so it is shorter than it looks...lol I'm publishing it today because I don't want to take a chance at messing up the "future" publishing feature. Every time it hasn't worked was because of user error...lol
Where Were You on September 11, 2001?
Good Morning,
We’re here today to remember and honor those whose lives were taken and those whose lives were given in service.
On September 11, 2001 -- 2,977 innocent people lost their lives:
- New York: 2,753 — including people aboard American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, as well as those killed at and around the World Trade Center.
- Washington, D.C. area: 184 — those killed at the Pentagon and aboard American Airlines Flight 77.
- Shanksville, Pennsylvania: 40 — the passengers and crew aboard United Airlines Flight 93, who lost their lives after passengers attempted to take back control of the aircraft.
2,977 lives!... Please take a moment to reflect on that.
It’s hard to believe that 25 years have gone by since the horror of September 11, 2001.
I’ll bet everyone who’s old enough remembers exactly where they were when they first learned that our country was under attack.
It was a chaotic and emotional day as we watched in shock and disbelief while the events unfolded before our eyes.
Pam was in her second day at a new job at Christian Book Distributors in Peabody. I had taken the day off because the heating company was scheduled to replace our boiler. The installers were down in the basement, and I was making coffee for them and for me.
The television was on when I heard that an aircraft had flown into the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
What?
How do you fly into a building that tall?
“My 1st thought was mustah been a small aircraft.” I couldn’t believe my eyes when the replay showed that it was a jetliner.
Then a thought popped into the back of my mind:
“Why are there cameras specifically pointed at the Twin Towers that would capture this?”
I yelled for the HVAC crew to come upstairs while announcing that…
“A jet flew into one of the World Trade Center towers!”
And, as we watched in disbelief, another jetliner crashed into the South Tower.
Our phone rang.
It was our second son calling from college.
“What’s happening, Dad?”
“We’re under attack, son! The country is under attack!”
“What should I do?”
“Well, right now, all you can do is pray. Stay put. Stay safe. And be aware of your surroundings.”
Then we heard that the Pentagon had been hit.
Next, came the news about Flight 93 and the crash in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
And eventually we learned about the passengers who had fought back.
“Let’s Roll!” became a national mantra.
I remember thinking about how I could get myself reactivated into the Air Force. I was 52 years old, but my first thought was: There must be something I can do.
We watched New York's police officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, and other first responders running toward the danger while everyone else was trying to get away from it.
Our eyes were glued to the television.
We were mesmerized.
And then it happened.
We watched in disbelief and astonishment as the Towers COLLAPSED!
“HOW CAN THAT BE POSSIBLE?”
“WHO THE (expletive deleted) DID THIS?”
In the days that followed, something remarkable happened in America.
We bonded together in solidarity. We had a common purpose. It was something I hadn't seen since my time in the military.
Flags appeared everywhere. Neighbors helped neighbors. People stopped arguing about the things that normally divided us. For a brief time, we remembered that before anything else, we are Americans!
Twenty-five years later, we should never forget that.
There is no way we can ever fully repay or adequately honor the public safety personnel who answered the call that day.
They are the men and women who go to work every day knowing that they may be called upon to run toward danger rather than away from it.
They enter burning buildings.
They respond to crashes.
They confront violence.
They put themselves in harm’s way to protect complete strangers.
Perhaps the best way we can honor them is simply not to take their dedication for granted.
I believe the Good Lord has called some people to be warriors. Not necessarily warriors on a battlefield, but warriors who protect, serve and stand between danger and those who need protection.
Our police officers, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and other public safety professionals are our civilian warriors and protectors.
So today, 25 years after that terrible morning, let us remember the 2,977 innocent lives lost.
Let us remember their families.
Let us remember the passengers and crews who never made it home.
Let us remember the firefighters, police officers, EMTs, and other first responders who ran toward the danger. And those who perished while saving others.
And let us remember the courage of ordinary Americans who, when confronted with extraordinary circumstances, found the strength to act.
Our nation's resolve was tested that day, September 11, 2001. Now 25 years later, that resolve is being tested again. Let’s adopt and commit to memory the “Let’s Roll” attitude.
We remember.
We honor.
We will never forget.
Thank you to all of our public safety personnel.
God bless you, and God bless America.
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