WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) released the following statement today on the eleventh anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks:
"Eleven years ago, our nation was attacked in an unfathomable way. On September 11, 2001, 3,000 lives were senselessly cut short – 3,000 families forever torn apart.
I recall looking up at the Twin Towers as they burned and collapsed, and I will never forget what I felt that day – the confusion, the pain, the anger, and the overwhelming sense of fear. But that was not all that I saw. I also saw courage, steely resolve, and self-sacrifice in the face of unspeakable evil. I saw a community and nation come together, committed to honoring those who lost their lives that day, thanking our first responders who saved countless lives at Ground Zero in the days that followed, and bringing those responsible to justice.
And justice has been served: on May 1, 2011, U.S. military forces brought Osama bin Laden to justice. Here in Washington, as in New York City, people rejoiced in the streets. It was a day of solemn reflection and remembrance of those whose lives were lost. And of course, we were reminded yet again of the awesome sacrifice that our brave men and women in uniform made that day, and for the past decade, for the sake of our security.
Today, on this somber day of memorial, let us recommit ourselves to preserving the legacy of the fallen, thanking our patriots fighting for us overseas, and honoring our veterans when they come home. We can never recover the three thousand lives lost that day eleven years ago, but hopefully we will never lose the ensuing sense of community, patriotism, and pride we've experienced since."