Durbin Marks 22nd Anniversary Of 9/11 Attacks In Speech On Senate Floor
In his speech, Durbin honored the heroes who responded to the terrorist attack
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor recognizing the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. In his remarks, Durbin spoke with reverence about the heroes who acted with immense courage to divert planes or provide emergency services outside Washington, D.C., in New York City, and in Pennsylvania.
“Today, we take a moment to remember the anniversary of September 11, 2001. Many people will recall vividly that day where they were. I was in this building, outside that door and a few steps down the hallway. I can recall seeing on a small television set the planes striking the towers in New York. At first, we were confused… When the second one took place, it started to dawn on us this was no longer an accident. It was by design,” Durbin said.
“I can recall looking down the [National] Mall toward the Washington Monument and seeing black smoke billowing across the Mall. It took a few minutes to establish what had happened. A plane had crashed into the Pentagon, and our Department of Defense, killing the innocent people on the plane and in that building, and what we were seeing was the smoke from the plane that crashed,” Durbin continued.
Durbin went on to note that this anniversary should serve as a reminder that a divided nation is still capable of rising above polarization when citizens turn to a common purpose.
“Now, 22 years later, we are connected by sadness as we reflect on 2,977 lives lost at the World Trade Center [in] New York, the Pentagon [in] Washington, and that field in Pennsylvania. But we also remember the care for our communities and common purpose we found after that tragedy, when our nation sought to find light amidst the darkness,” Durbin said.
“In our most divided moments, we should look at that as a reminder, that America as a nation is best when we seek humanity over separation and hate,”Durbin concluded.
Video of Durbin’s remarks on the floor is availablehere.
Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the floor is availablehere.
Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the floor is availablehere for TV Stations.
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