Pelosi Remarks at 9/11 Congressional Remembrance Ceremony

Washington D.C. - Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi delivered remarks this evening at a Congressional Remembrance Ceremony observing the 10th anniversary of September 11th.   Below are the Leader's remarks:

"Over and over again we say that when we visit the memory of September 11th, we are treading on sacred ground.

"On that day, as we all know, 10 years ago, we witnessed a world that was changing before our very eyes, scenes of a horrific attack on our nation and our fellow Americans.

"As we watched images of destruction in New York, Pennsylvania, and at the Pentagon, we bore witness to courage, to bravery, to heroism and patriotism of those who ran to the rescue of those in danger, who searched for survivors, who risked their lives to save others.

"Long after the buildings fell, in the weeks following, many of us visited the site.  And we heard silence.  Silence as workers sifted through the rubble, sifted through the rubble with great strength, with great dignity, and with silence.  Sacred ground, indeed.

"Every day is a day that we are indebted to our first responders, to them at that time--but every day since--to our service members and their families, to all who work to keep us safe.

"Earlier this year, many of us in Congress, and people throughout the country, had the privilege of stitching the flag that flew over Ground Zero on that fateful day.  It is now being mended with portions of other flags, but I mention it now because those fragments of piecing the flag together included threads from the flag that covered President Lincoln's body after his assassination--a connection across generations, from one terrible tragedy for our nation to another.  Again, across the country, portions of flags from every state united by those blue threads from Lincoln's flag.

"And when I saw those blue threads, I thought of what President Lincoln had said in one of his earlier speeches.  He talked about ‘the silent artillery of time.'  I hope that the silent artillery of time does something to lessen the pain of those who lost their loved ones.  But it will never diminish or lessen the memory of those who gave their lives and those who came to the rescue.  As I say, we should honor them every day.

"Ten years ago, we stood on the steps of this Capitol.  We sang ‘God Bless America.'  It's a tremendous memory for all of us, a very poignant one.  We know that God has truly blessed America with the service and leadership of our men and women in uniform wherever they serve, our first responders and all who keep us safe in our country.  May God continue to bless the United States of America."