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Thank you for being a part of this commemoration
ceremony. I don’t think there is a person in this audience
who won’t remember, for the rest of their lives, exactly where
they were when they heard the news of the attacks on the World
Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Some have suggested that it is no longer appropriate to commemorate
9-11; that six years have passed and that we should now let
it go. I would say to them that we must remember history,
that we must remember those who lost their lives, and that
we must value the freedom that we are so fortunate to have
each day.
September 11, 2001 changed the course of history. As much
as I remember the victims of that terrible day and honor their
memory, I think today is also a day to reflect on the courage,
bravery, and heroism shown by so many in the face of such
evil.
We should look back and celebrate the bravery of the New
York City Firefighters, Police, and emergency medical workers.
We should also look back and celebrate the heroic resolve
of the passengers aboard Flight 93 over Pennsylvania and the
bravery of those in the Pentagon who rushed to the aid of
their fallen comrades.
And of course, let us also celebrate and thank the brave
men and women from the military here today, who put their
lives on the line each day so that we may enjoy the freedom
promised in our Declaration of Independence, Constitution,
and Bill of Rights over 200 years ago.
The threat to freedom is real and it is global. In the past
weeks authorities have uncovered plots in Denmark and Germany
– plots that have been linked to Al Qaida, plots that aimed
to kill innocent civilians. Terrorist bombings have killed
dozens in Pakistan, in India, and of course terrorist attacks
continue in Iraq. It is through our collective vigilance and
the strong cooperation between freedom-loving countries that
many of these plots have been detected or deterred.
So let’s not forget that the battle continues against those
who oppose freedom and reconciliation throughout the world.
Al Qaida still has a presence in Afghanistan, and Al Qaida
stands in the front ranks of those self-proclaimed enemies
of free democracies.
Democratic nations everywhere have the obligation to unite
to defend our people against those who wish to take away our
freedoms: the freedom to live peacefully in our homes, the
freedom to practice the religion of our choice, the freedom
to choose our own governments. In the end, our greatest weapon
in the fight against terror is our power to overcome hate
and to expand understanding and mutual respect among all people.
This is a long, but noble task, and here gathered in front
of me is a great example of an international community united
by mutual respect: our Embassy community.
It is not only our valiant warriors overseas that are protecting
us against those who would still strive to do us harm. Every
member of this Mission also shares in the role of protector
of the American homeland.
Your efforts to track terrorist and narco-financing, to work
hand-in-hand with Mexican police and judges to support justice,
to ensure the safety of food supplies, to increase border
security – the work of literally every member of our Mission
in Mexico – helps Americans and Mexicans to be safer in their
homes and their communities. And that is worth remembering
and celebrating as well.
So today let’s celebrate and re-commit ourselves as free
people. We are building bridges of partnership with Mexico
that will make both our countries more secure and more prosperous.
Let us hope, and pray, and work every day to make this post
9-11 world a better, more secure and more prosperous world.
Now I would ask that we observe a moment of silence in remembrance
of those Americans, Mexicans, and citizens of more than 70
countries who lost their lives six years ago today.
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