Honoring Victims and Survivors on 24th Anniversary of 9/11 Terrorist Attacks
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) released the following statement today on the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks:
“Those of us who were in Washington, D.C. on the morning of September 11, 2001 woke to a beautiful, sunny day. Just moments after arriving to work in the U.S. Capitol that day, that tranquility was broken when my staff and I saw smoke billowing from the Pentagon. We were quickly searching for answers about what was happening. Across our nation, Americans soon faced the horror unfolding on their television screens from Washington, D.C., New York City, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
“24 years since that fateful day, I join Americans in honoring the nearly 3,000 souls our nation lost, the bravery of the first responders who rushed into action, and the resilience of families and communities that will never be the same. Today, I’m reflecting on our nation’s shared grief as well as the strength in unity that kept our country moving forward amid this shared national tragedy. As the United States, we mourn with those who lost loved ones and honor the brave first responders whose heroic actions saved hundreds of lives.
“Today, there are forces that seek to divide our nation. Just as our nation united in the aftermath of 9/11, we must unite today in defending our shared commitment to freedom, justice, and democracy. We must never allow our American ideals to be extinguished by any actor, foreign or domestic.”
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