September 11th Commemoration
September 11th Commemoration
As Delivered by Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta, Pentagon Memorial, Arlington, VA, Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Mr. President, Mrs. Obama, General Dempsey, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, and in particular family members who lost a loved one here on 9/11.
Eleven years ago, on a morning very much like this, terrorists attacked the symbols of American strength: our economy and our commerce, our military might and our democracy – and took the lives of citizens from more than 90 countries. It was the worst terrorist attack on America in our history.
Today, people gather from across the United States and around the world to remember the tragic events of 9/11. Some take part in ceremonies like this. Others spend time alone in quiet reflection and prayer. And all of us take a moment to remember again where we were at that fateful moment.
Here together as one family we pause to honor, and to pray, and to remember 184 lives lost at the Pentagon, more than 2,700 killed in Lower Manhattan, and the 40 who perished in that field in Pennsylvania on Flight 93.
These victims' families remember those who were lost as mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters. To the family members here today, know that the entire nation joins you in mourning the loss of your loved ones. We are honored by your presence. And just as your loved ones are heroes forever, so are all of you.
Today we also recognize and remember other heroes, those first responders who rushed to the scene behind me, into the fire and chaos to save lives and helped in any way possible. We owe you a very special debt, and we appreciate all you did to provide aid and comfort to those who needed it so badly.
Our thoughts also turn to the survivors. On that bright, sunny Tuesday morning, you reported to work with no idea about the tragedy lay ahead. Suddenly, this building was rocked by an explosion. After the impact, many of you risked your lives to help others. Many can remember the smell of the rubble and jet fuel. And some of you knew the victims as office-mates and friends, and knew their families.
Like sixty years before, a nation at peace suddenly found itself at war.
For all of you and for every American, this memorial is a permanent place for prayer and remembrance. And it is a fitting tribute to the lives of those so cruelly taken from us – the passengers and crew of Flight 77, and military and civilian personnel working here at the Pentagon. It is a fitting tribute to all who were lost. Yesterday I had the opportunity to visit another memorial – the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville. I was reminded of those horrible moments after the hijacking, when the passengers and crew were able to make frantic to speak to their loved ones for the last time. They knew what was at stake, and yet they decided to fight back. Together, they took swift and decisive action to stop yet another attack targeted at the nation's capital.
That spirit of selflessness, that spirit of determination, and courage is the enduring legacy of 9/11. It inspires our nation. It inspires our military to ensure such an attack never happens again. It inspires us to never forget those who perished; to defend our homeland and our ideals; and to send a resounding message to our enemies: that no one attacks the United States of America and gets away with it.
For today we also recall that out of the shock and sadness of 9/11 came a new sense of unity and resolve. It inspired a fierce determination to fight back and protect our way of life. In trying to attack our strengths, the terrorists unleashed our greatest strengths. The spirit and the will for Americans to fight for our country.
Millions of Americans have responded. A whole new and great generation stepped forward to serve in uniform, to fight in this war on terrorism. They bled on distant battlefields. They relentlessly pursued those who would do us harm. They put their lives on the line to give all of us a safer and better future, and to bring those behind these attacks to justice.
Because of their sacrifices, because they were willing to fight and to die, and because of their dedication, our nation is stronger and safer today than on 9/11. We never gave up the search for Bin Laden and we successfully brought him to justice. We decimated the leadership of Al Qaeda -- we have them on the run -- and we have made it difficult for them to plan and conduct another 9/11 attack. And while that group is still a threat, we've dealt it a very heavy blow. And we will continue to fight them in Yemen, in Somalia, in North Africa. Wherever they go. To make sure that they have no place to hide.
Our troops denied safe haven to Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and they're fighting so that Afghanistan can secure and govern itself. Make no mistake: we will continue to pursue and fight our enemies wherever they go, wherever they hide, wherever they try to find refuge – we will never stop until we have made sure that America is safe.
On this day of solemn remembrance, let us renew a solemn pledge – to those who died on 9/11 and to their families. It is a pledge we also make to all of those who put their lives on the line, and who have paid a heavy price over the last 11 years of war.
Our pledge is to keep fighting for a safer and stronger future, our pledge is to ensure America always remains a government of, by, and for all people. That pledge, that legacy, makes clear that no one who died on that terrible day died in vain. They died for a stronger America.
This morning we are honored by the presence of our military and civilian leaders, and we are particularly honored by the presence of President and Mrs. Obama. The president has led our efforts in this fight and I am honored to have served with him. It's now my great honor to introduce our Commander-in-Chief. Ladies and Gentlemen, President Barack Obama.
As Delivered by Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta, Pentagon Courtyard, Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Good afternoon and thank you, Mike, for that introduction. Leaders of the Department, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for taking time out of your day to come together and remember the tragic morning of September 11th, 2001. Even as we mark 11 years since that horrible day, we know it will be forever ingrained in our souls as members of the Pentagon family — and as Americans.
We pay tribute this afternoon to the 184 innocent people who lost their lives here that morning. Fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, service members, civilians, they had done nothing to deserve such a cruel fate. We remember them, and we think of their families who have suffered through grief and through heartbreak.
We also honor the courageous efforts of the first responders, the rescue workers, and countless civilian and military Pentagon employees whose efforts to save the wounded prevented further loss of life. Their actions that day reflect the very spirit of this great country of ours, and the spirit of service that drives the United States of America.
We remember men and women like the Marine major who joined others in rushing to the most heavily damaged areas. They struggled for air amidst thick black smoke as they pulled out the wounded who were trapped under mounds of debris. When asked by a reporter for his name, this Marine said he wanted to remain anonymous. He clawed through the rubble, he was motivated not by fame, not by headlines, but motivated and driven by the unbreakable commitment to "leave no one behind," and save as many lives as he could.
We also pay tribute to the resilience displayed by the survivors. Thousands reported for duty the next morning, while portions of this building were still burning. Their determination showed our enemy that we would not be intimidated, that we would get right back up, and that we would be even stronger than before. Our enemies thought that they could weaken us that morning. But instead they saw this country for what it is and what it's all about. We saw Americans risking their lives to help each other. We saw Americans rolling up their sleeves, as we always do, to rebuild what was destroyed. We saw the Pentagon community rededicate itself to its vital mission of protecting this country. This is the enduring legacy of 9/11.
Today, all of you build on that great legacy. The strength of our democracy has always rested on the willingness of those who believe in its values to give something back to this great country; and when faced by crisis, to get up and respond to duty. September 11th was such a time.
Today we recognize the millions of Americans who stepped forward to answer that call and to serve in uniform. They are the latest in a proud lineage of Americans who raised their right hands in a time of need and volunteered to serve this country. They have carried the burden of protecting America for 11 years, relentlessly pursuing those who would do us harm. They are truly the "next greatest generation."
They fought and bled in places like Ramadi and Sadr City. And they continue fighting to keep us safe in remote outposts across Afghanistan.
Because of their sacrifices, because there are those who were willing to fight and die for this country, we are a safer and stronger nation today than on 9/11, and the principal terrorist behind these attacks has been brought to justice.
These men and women who serve this country, and all of you who support them back home, are delivering a resounding message to our enemies: no one attacks America and gets away with it. We will do what is necessary to protect our country, and to give our children a better and more secure life.
That goal, that dream, is what unites us as men and women of this Department, and as Americans. That dream is what's driving the public service that all of you perform.
Like the Marine major digging through that rubble that day 11 years ago, much of this work gets done quietly, without much recognition, without a great deal of fanfare, but with the solemn pledge of duty to protect this country. Never doubt its importance to the troops on the front lines who depend on you, or to Americans across this country whose security depends on the work of this Department.
It is easy to sometimes get so absorbed in the daily grind of day-to-day activities and day-to-day headlines that we lose sight of the bigger picture. That too is why we pause here this afternoon. Today we stop to recall the insecurity and vulnerability all of us felt as the sun set on that terrible day eleven years ago. It is a painful memory, but a necessary one, as it reminds all of us why we must never get complacent, why we must never doubt the importance of the work we do here, and why we can never fail, every day, to give it our all.
So let me thank you for all that you from the bottom of my heart, for all that you do to keep this country of ours safe and secure, and for dedicating yourselves to this mission. That dedication, that commitment, is the legacy of 9/11, and one that we must always carry into the future.
God bless all of those who lost their lives on September 11th, and those who have given their lives in service to this country.
God bless all of you, and God bless America.
