For all Americans, for all time, the phrase “nine-eleven” will evoke a special meaning, a memory of a moment in our history when the world as we knew it changed forever. It is fitting, then, that every year on September 11 Americans join together to honor the memory of the more than three thousand people who died that day. And it is fitting that we observe a moment of silence as a tribute to those lives cut short, and as a symbol of the empty places left behind in the hearts of those still living.
But these solemn ceremonies on September 11 will always be more than a remembrance of the past, more than a tribute to the lives lost 17 years ago. These ceremonies are today, and always will be, a remembrance and a tribute to both the living and the dead.
Members of JTFD1 attend the ceremony at Town Hall where there is a piece of the World Trade Center. The 9/11 Tribute highlights the tremendous spirit of resilience, compassion and service that arose after the attacks. It offers inspiration for visitors to honor the legacy of these actions through volunteerism and acts of kindness in their own communities. We are honored to be a part of such a special event, thank you to the Boy Scouts for coordinating the event as well as the township Mayor for the special appearance.
So today, as we think back on the events of 9/11 , our sorrow over the loss of so many good people should be tempered by the example shown by so many who died, and so many who lived. They taught us through their actions that day what it means to be human. They showed us the immutable value of duty, loyalty, self-sacrifice, love. The only way we will triumph over terrorism, and conquer the senseless tragedy of that horrible day, is by celebrating the kindness of the human spirit.
