WASHINGTON, DC—Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn today released the following statement about the tenth anniversary of 9/11:
“Each of us of a certain age remembers where we were on September 11, 2001. I was attending a meeting in the Capitol when House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt’s staff informed us of the planes crashing into the World Trade Center. We had no comprehension of how the future of our country was about to be irrevocably changed.
“Today I am still moved by the heroics of our first responders on September 11th. They represent all that is great and honorable about America. I am still deeply saddened to hear the stories of families that lost a loved one on that fateful day. I am still humbled by the young men and women who joined our armed forces to defend our nation against subsequent attacks.
“While 9/11 may have been one of our nation’s worst days, it spawned some of our nation’s best days. Days in which Americans were united and took pride in their country. Days in which Congress worked together to address a crisis and put partisan bickering aside. Days in which we all looked to our President as our Commander in Chief and sought comfort and solace that our country would emerge stronger as a result of this horrific attack.
“These are lessons we should take to heart today as we reflect on this auspicious anniversary. America is facing another crisis, and we need the unity, the cooperation and belief in our leaders that we will come out of these difficult days a stronger and better nation. The old adage “united we stand, divided we fall” is more apt today than ever. Our founding fathers sought to create “a more perfect union,” and that is what we can achieve by reviving the spirit of America in the post-9/11 days.”