E-Newsletter

We Will Never Forget

Winston Churchill once said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal:  it is the courage to continue that counts.”  Eleven years ago on a fateful day in September, Churchill’s wisdom and foresight surely weren’t fully understood.  After four planes – hijacked by nineteen terrorists from the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda – took down the World Trade Towers, destroyed part of the Pentagon, and crashed in a field in Pennsylvania, questions were plentiful.  How did this happen?  What does this mean?  As a nation, had we been dealt an unrecoverable blow?

Like many of you, I distinctly remember where I was when the first plane flew into the North Tower.  As with any typical Tuesday morning, I was in my office.  My assistant, who was watching the television, called me into her office shortly before 9a.m.  Neither of us could understand how a plane could have been so off course as to hit a building.  Then, after we saw the second plane crash into the South Tower, we knew the United States was under attack.

In looking back on the day’s events, surely the terrorists believed they had succeeded in dealing us a fatal blow.  As a nation, we were caught off guard.  Admittedly, we were wholly unprepared for an attack of this type and scale.  But, in spite of this unpreparedness, Americans – thousands of courageous men and women – made sure that the day was defined, not by our failures, but by our courage.

From New York to the Pentagon to a plane flying over Pennsylvania, so many firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency responders, and bystanders put their lives at risk to help those in need.  From the emergency personnel rushing up the stairs of the burning towers, to the passengers banding together to take back their plane on United Flight 93, to the men and women rushing to the collapsed and burning section of the Pentagon, the stories of courage, selflessness, and bravery are almost endless.

The events of that horrible day are surely ingrained in the minds of every American.  This week, we remember and honor all those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.  We pay tribute to the brave and courage Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice while simply trying to help others.  And we pause to pray for the families of those who lost loved ones in the attacks and whose lives were forever changed. 

Throughout the Ninth District, brave men and women continue to work every day to keep our communities safe.  I am thankful for their selfless service.  As the battle against terrorism continues, we should also remember our troops who are fighting to protect our freedom.  As you take a moment to reflect today, I encourage you to reflect on those lost on 9/11 as well as all of those who serve our nation both at home and abroad.  May God bless our service members, and may He continue to bless the United States of America.

As always, if you have questions, concerns, or comments, feel free to contact my office.  You can call my Abingdon office at 276-525-1405 or my Christiansburg office at 540-381-5671.  To reach my office via email, please visit my website at www.morgangriffith.house.gov.

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