Congressman Gregory W. Meeks Statement on the 10th Anniversary of 9/11

PRESS RELEASE

September 11, 2011

CONGRESSMAN GREGORY W. MEEKS STATEMENT
ON THE 10th ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11

(JAMAICA, NY)–Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (NY-6), Senior Member of the House Financial Services Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement on the 10th Anniversary of 9/11:

“It is hard to believe that ten years have lapsed since 9/11. In some respects it seems like yesterday, in others like the terrorist attacks occurred decades ago.

“This has been the most difficult of decades for many of us, especially those who lost family members or friends, those who survived the carnage, and those charged with responding to the attack and rebuilding in its aftermath. The costs have been enormous. No price can be attached to the lives lost that day and since by the men and women who perished in the collapse of the Twin Towers or at the Pentagon, by the extraordinary Americans on Flight 93 who sacrificed themselves rather allow the hijackers of the fourth plane destroy the Capitol Building or the White House, by the first responders, ironworkers, and volunteers who put life and limb on the line in a desperate search for survivors, and by the members of our military who made the ultimate of sacrifices or endured catastrophic injuries in our relentless pursuit of the conspirators and their supporters."

“It is possible to calculate the cost of the destruction of property, the disruption of our economy, the rebuilding of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, but impossible to calculate the cost exacted against the way we live and how we relate to each other and govern ourselves. It may be true that September 11, 2001 has changed us forever. But this does not mean that America will not be a better nation."

“Through all that we lost on that day and all the difficulties we encountered during the 9/11 decade, we are demonstrating our resiliency. We have grown more resourceful and resolute. We captured and killed the leader of Al Qaeda. We brought many of its other operatives to justice."

“Most important, we recovered. We repaired and reopened the Pentagon. We are rebuilding the World Trade Center site. New structures are rising — especially the Freedom Tower and the 9/11 Memorial. Former tenants of the Twin Towers are moving into the new buildings. New tenants are coming in. Thousands of families have made the surrounding neighborhoods home. Schools have been opened; restaurants reopened; and parks restored. Vendors are back."

“The lesson is this: As a nation and as a people America and Americans are undaunted and undefeated. We will always summon the solidarity we experienced on 9/11. As with the 9/11 families, America will always gather itself, regroup, and go forward. On this occasion, all across this country let us renew our resolve to reclaim our sense of national purpose and, as we did ten years ago, turn to each other in meeting the great challenges that lay ahead.” [End]